This article systematically reviews empirical studies involving scientific literacy published in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on the construction of scientific literacy in formal education worldwide, the suggested ways of adopting scientific literacy in the early years, and the current practices and future possibilities for scientific literacy…

Background: Few studies have investigated how heat impacts play from the perspective of children. The purpose of this study was to explore children's experiences of recess play during high temperatures. Methods: We used the draw-and-tell method to retrospectively explore the experiences of recess during hot weather among students (N = 38) between…

This article is based on multimodal perspectives and contributes to research on how children deal with a multimodal illustration of scientific concepts used in emergent science (i.e., early years science) education. It presents a study of a group of 14 preschoolers observed when dealing with the concept of stability, as illustrated in a…

The article considers street-connected children and their right to play. By drawing on a qualitative case study involving interviews and focus groups with NGO workers and children who lived on the streets in the Kathmandu valley, this article explores play, its role in children's lives and the applicability of the UNCRC Article 31. We argue that…

This paper/visual art/puppet show is about the more-than-human entities who help me include my whole self in my teaching and other research. It is about how generative it is to be our whole, sacred, profane, glorious selves. This art reminds us of the importance of dreaming beyond what we have been told is possible. It demonstrates how irreverent,…

Background: Outdoor play supports physical and psychological health among children and early adolescents (EA; ages 10-14). However, most research to date has focused on younger children (under 10), leaving a gap in understanding the specific barriers and facilitators of outdoor play for EA. Objective: This study investigated parental perspectives…

This paper discusses a study that considered how the quality of three different learning environments, indoor classrooms, outdoor classrooms and forest schools, for children aged 3-5 years, is associated with the quality of their utterances. Adopting a theoretical framework of interactionism it was found that, within the study settings (n = 4),…

In-depth interviews exploring academics' teaching practices and views on undergraduate education at one English university reveal concerning examples of educational trade-offs in delivering on national and institutional quality expectations. Evidence reveals the negative impacts on teaching and students' learning and achievements. Quality…

Experiencing broad play and interaction opportunities is known to support children's learning and development and engagement with museum collections has the potential to stimulate enriching learning opportunities for even the youngest enquiring minds. Here, we describe the development of Toddler Time; a museum-based early years program developed…

With the rise of nature-based early childhood education (NBECE) and emphasis on the importance of risky play, it is prudent to investigate a different approach to fire safety, through experimenting with fire and following necessary safety precautions within NBECE and other settings. This study explored fire as a loose part, safety considerations,…

In the background of recent research which recognises the 'ubiquitousness' of outdoor school breaktimes in the UK (Baines and Blatchford 2023) and the acknowledged role in play being key to peer friendships (Carter, 2022), this article focuses on the location where these breaks or playtimes are spent -- the school playground. The data is drawn…

This paper examines the concept of joyful teaching in higher education and discusses common themes associated with it, as well as presents challenges. It is this concept of joyful teaching that we believe should be discussed and explored in greater detail, especially as it is an emerging concept with decolonizing pedagogies. This study uses 29…

Understanding the impacts of digital media such as video games is critical for scholarship during the digital transformation. While the literature on the effects of video games continues to grow, there is little work on positive effects, including creativity, either as an outcome from or process within games. Video games are a media type that…

As the Aotearoa New Zealand Government reforms increasingly challenge the place of play in primary education, this study offers timely insights into the experiences, perceptions, and practices of four new entrant teachers who are successfully implementing play-based learning in four Auckland schools. This small, qualitative study highlights that…

The frequency of home spatial activities (e.g., puzzles and blocks) correlates with young children's spatial skills, but causal evidence is limited. We addressed this issue by comparing the effects of a parent-led intervention aimed at increasing spatial activities to an active control targeting narrative activities (preregistered:…