This pilot project explored the extent to which a pre-literate child can identify and record basic statistical concepts of shape, spread, and center represented by blocks in the form of a frequency distribution. A simple apparatus consisting of a ruler, pencil, and set of blocks was designed to engage a child in playful exercises under the…

Recess in the United States is decidedly limited in elementary schools, despite numerous research findings that support unstructured play as a vehicle for development across multiple domains. It is widely understood that recess breaks promote prosocial behaviors, physical activity, and attentiveness in class. However, few researchers in the United…

The purpose of this qualitative case study study is to examine the ways in which mobile videogames can be used in non-formal educational environments, to support students to develop decision-making skills through negotiated play. In the context of this study, the health literacy mobile videogame, "PlayForward: Elm City Stories" developed…

This study aims to understand the ways in which children's play is situated in and shaped by middle-class parenting practices in South Korea. Drawing on a set of data collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 parents having children aged 6-11 years, I observe that despite the widespread rhetoric of the significance of play, parents'…

A large literature shows that relatively young students perform worse in class. Using data from the 'Health Behaviour in School Aged Children' international survey, we additionally find robust evidence that they are aware of performing poorly, they spend more time watching TV and less time doing sports than older peers, while tending to spend as…

The study aims at exploring Indonesian children's preferences in the choice of play companions that lead to their happiness. In total, 381 boys and 396 girls (aged 4-6 years old) participated in the study. We conducted a story-telling test to determine which play companions that lead to children's happiness and by using content analysis to…

School recess as a valued component of school life is under challenge. The present study aims to investigate the pupils' perspectives about the role and the meaning of play during school recess recognising the role of the children as agents in their own development and considering play as a socio-cultural activity undertaken, developed and…

This article introduces playful learning as part of the decolonising project at institutes of higher learning in South Africa with specific reference to the discipline of communication design. Not only does the article interrogate the content of design education, specifically design for development, but more specifically the way that design for…

Background: Pediatric cancer treatments interfere with the patient's life on physical, psychological, and social levels. Hospital Clowns (HCs) use nonpharmacological techniques to reduce the distress that hospital treatments can cause and increase children's wellbeing, but few studies have analyzed their effects. Objective: This study examined the…

The Welsh foundation phase is a play-based curriculum for 3-7-year-olds advocating outdoor and experiential approaches to learning. Play-based outdoor learning increases interaction with a range of affordances giving opportunities for movement in learning. Children assign activities as either play or not play-based on a series of cues. Teaching…

This study examined the daily routines and activities of Mexican-heritage mothers and their children with autism spectrum disorder. Experienced sampling methods were used to capture families' current daily routines and activities, how parents valued those activities, and whether the activity was part of the child's autism spectrum disorder…

Purpose: This study examined the extent to which fundamental motor skill competence (FMSC; locomotor and object control skill competence) and perceived physical competence (PPC) predicted physical activity levels and sedentary behaviors during free-play time at preschool. Method: A total of 72 children (girls n = 33, boys n = 39; M[subscript age]…

Purpose: The research adopting children's perspectives about early care and education has flourished since the adoption of UNCRC; however, the studies investigating experiences of children from diverse backgrounds in the literature are still scarce. This study aims to describe disadvantaged children's experiences in a target preschool from their…

In this study we analyzed the primary teaching and training experiences that observe play as a didactic resource to facilitate learning, highlighting fundamental elements and characteristics. A descriptive analysis of the different programs and contents with respect to playful methodology proposed by the Ministry of Education of Andalusian…

This report builds upon the original principles and philosophy of "Pre-Birth to 3" and "Building the Ambition." The new guidance retains the relevant content from the previous guidance which it replaces, extending and strengthening it in line with current research and evidence about how children develop and learn. This…