Play at the Center of the Curriculum

Play at the Center of the Curriculum, 6th Edition, combines the study of child development and play with early childhood curriculum planning. The textbook provides a rationale for positioning play at the heart of early education.

The text examines multiple types of play, including spontaneous, guided, and directed play, positioned alongside teacher-planned instruction. It outlines strategies educators use to manage transitions between self-directed play, guided play, and subject-oriented instruction.

Prepared for students of early childhood education, the 2015 edition connects theoretical models of play and development with empirical research, practical classroom strategies, and illustrative anecdotes of children at play.