Research suggests that children can learn new information via pretense. However, a fundamental problem with existing studies is that children are passive receivers of the pretense rather than active, engaged participants. This preregistered study replicates previous learning from pretense findings (Sutherland & Friedman, 2012, "Child…

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience difficulty with play, and a number of different interventions have been developed and evaluated to address this deficit. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials identified 19 studies reporting on play-based interventions for children with ASD aged 2-12 years. The components of…

In this article, we consider the academic literature regarding how racial discrimination is prefigured in societal norms and habits in early learning and childcare in Scotland and England. Specifically, we outline what we see as a salient opportunity to strengthen the existing knowledge base, namely how race and racism are understood in young…

This scoping review examines scholarship on video games in prominent literacy journals between years 2000 and 2020. 32 articles met inclusion criteria for the study, including 15 articles on entertainment games and 17 articles on serious/educational games. Included articles were categorized by various attributes, including year of publication,…

This study aims to ascertain the degree to which special education teachers believe they can effectively teaching through play. A descriptive survey model was used in the research. Our study sample consisted of 241 teachers working in special education in a state institution under the Konya Provincial Directorate of National Education. The data…

Although studies have investigated the enablers and barriers of digital teaching and learning of STEM, the integration of digital technologies into teaching geometry -- one of the main mathematical concepts, is frequently ignored and does not garner much scholarly attention. To fill this specific gap, this small-scale qualitative study explored…

When first released in 2009, the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) recognised intentional teaching as one of its eight core practices (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (2009). In 2022, the EYLF was revised to include a broader understanding of 'intentionality', encompassing both the educator and the child…

The introduction of online homework has revolutionized traditional assignment formats, providing students with access to abundant learning resources, a convenient platform for completing assignments, real-time interactive learning opportunities, and accurate feedback. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the perspectives of elementary…

Play, games and sport are a part of the content of physical education (PE), and has been the subject of a longstanding debate among educators internationally and in Scandinavian countries. Play refers to something unstructured and free, while sport is a controlled and managed activity. Drawing on Skovbjerg`s (2021) play theory, this article…

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted educational systems throughout the world. School closures, virtual schooling, and strict safety protocols for in-person learning changed instructional approaches to teaching. These changes were particularly disruptive in early childhood education which relies on play-based learning to support…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elicit salient information from K-5 teachers regarding their perceptions of in-school play. Play is not goal-focused and can be structured or unstructured, includes high or low physical activity, or utilizes gross or fine motor skills, and children participate in play for enjoyment. Method: K-5 teachers (n…

Mud pants have protected Finnish preschool children from dirt and water for many years. However, children do not like to wear them and educators in preschools feel that mud pants cause hard work. This contradiction made us wonder with mud pants. Drawing on relational--material approaches, we understand mud pants as material agent and ask the…

This study explores the experiences and perspectives of eight elementary teachers regarding the play behaviours of deaf children in their classrooms in Mexico City. Through a narrative inquiry design, this research comprehensively explains teachers' insights and observations on social interactions and communication development among deaf children.…

Currently, despite the rapid growth of the population of Chinese immigrant families and children in the United States, preschool-aged Chinese-heritage children are an underrepresented group in research. The overarching purpose of this project was to provide a deeper understanding of Head Start Chinese immigrant parents' beliefs about children's…

Patricia Carini valued children's own play and work--writing, drawing, sculpting, building--as a critical mode of meaning-making and learning. Modern education often places little emphasis on such play and work: standards-based programs and projects absorb every moment of the school day, often requiring even more time than is available. Yet…