The host of the internationally popular early childhood podcast "That Early Childhood Nerd" provides a framework for understanding the importance of free play. Free play is disappearing from the lives of too many young children, leaving them vulnerable to negative effects on their physical and mental health, social and emotional growth,…

Risky play is climbing, high-speed activities, dangerous exploration, dangerous elements, rough and tumble, and disappearing experiences. There are three primary barriers to risky play: the introduction of electronics, building safer playgrounds in new urban-designed cities, and parent involvement in overscheduling activities have been hindering…

US Catholic schools have been known to educate the whole child. However, the Catholic sector has not widely embraced a shared understanding of whole child education or how it is operationalised, nor have researchers interested in this sector effectively measured the impact of approaches in any or all domains. This conceptual paper presents a…

In 2017, 5019 educators from primary and preschool settings across Victoria, Australia took part in joint professional learning around effective transition to school processes. Upon registering for this professional learning workshop, participants were invited to identify the most significant challenges associated with transition to school. The…

Although it is well established that reading with young children supports early language and literacy development, few studies have focused on the importance of parental beliefs about reading with infants. The current study, which sheds light on parental beliefs had three main aims. The first was to examine practices of shared reading in infancy…

The study examines Greek and Turkish teachers' perspectives on the role of outdoor play in fostering children's sustainable development. Outdoor play extends learning beyond the classroom, promoting holistic growth and environmental stewardship. The research is designed according to qualitative research methodology and case study pattern. In…

Early intervention (EI) sessions are intended to occur in a child's natural environment. Part of a child's natural environment includes the materials they typically can access. Recommended practices in the field suggest that EI providers should use materials in children's homes rather than bringing a toy bag to address the child and family goals.…

This study investigates the Pedagogical Leadership Training Project aimed at enhancing leadership in rural Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in South Africa. It addresses the prevalent economic-focused leadership that neglects pedagogical issues, hindering access to government funding and regulatory compliance. The research explores the…

Although the role of the home in supporting early childhood development, early learning and school outcomes is well established, the perspectives of caregivers on child development and schooling outcomes are comparatively underexplored. This qualitative study was conducted with caregivers of children aged 6-10 years in Mahikeng, South Africa and…

A potential underlying mechanism associated with the difficulties in social interactions in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) concerns the abnormal development of moral reasoning. The present study examined utilitarian and deontological judgments in impersonal and personal moral dilemmas, comparing 66 individuals with ASD and 61 typically…

Early childhood education (ECE) is a crucial component of a child's development, laying the foundation for lifelong learning, well-being and success. This paper aims to shed light on the evolution of ECE development in China over the years, focusing on how various policies and reforms have influenced its trajectory. This study examines the context…

The aim of this study is to reveal preschool teachers' views on sensory education. In the study, phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, was selected. The study group of the research consists of 20 preschool teachers working in a city in Turkey in the 2022-2023 academic year. Maximum diversity sampling, one of the…

Parenting is widely considered to be among the most important influences on early childhood (EC) development. But to what extent and under what circumstances can EC parenting programs improve child learning outcomes? While substantial progress has been made toward addressing these questions in recent years, there have been few attempts to…

Background: Early childhood development (ECD) practitioners are encouraged to implement play pedagogies and their views of play as a pedagogy in rural settings have not been captured widely. They are the main role players in implementing play pedagogies for learners' learning and development. The commitment to play can be traced through theory and…

Introduction: Early development of fundamental movement skills (FMS) has various health, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical benefits. However, reports indicate children's motor skill proficiencies are diminishing. Therefore, the early childhood years and early childhood educators are vital for providing opportunities for FMS development,…