Play Based Learning - Literature List

    1. The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally by David Elkind

      Elkind’s book explores the significance of play in children’s learning and development. It discusses how play-based learning fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional competence. The book provides practical insights and examples for parents and educators on supporting play-based approaches in early childhood education.

      Elkind, D. (2007). The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally. Da Capo Lifelong Books.


    2. Play at the Center of the Curriculum by Judith Van Hoorn, Patricia Nourot, Barbara Scales, and Keith A. Wortham

      This comprehensive resource examines the role of play in early childhood education curriculum. It offers theoretical perspectives, research-based evidence, and practical strategies for integrating play-based learning across various subject areas and developmental domains.

      Van Hoorn, J., Nourot, P., Scales, B., & Wortham, K. A. (2014). Play at the Center of the Curriculum. Pearson.


    3. The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grownups by Erika Christakis

      Christakis’ book advocates for the importance of play-based learning in early childhood education. It challenges conventional approaches to academic instruction in preschool and emphasises the value of child-directed, hands-on experiences for promoting cognitive, social, and emotional development.

      Christakis, E. (2016). The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grownups. Penguin Books.


    4. Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder by Mariah Bruehl

      Bruehl’s book offers practical guidance for parents and educators on promoting playful learning experiences for children. It provides a wealth of creative activities, games, and projects designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and exploration across various age groups and learning contexts.

      Bruehl, M. (2011). Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder. Trumpeter.


    5. The Play’s the Thing: Teachers’ Roles in Children’s Play by Elizabeth Jones and Gretchen Reynolds

      This book explores the role of teachers in supporting and scaffolding children’s play experiences. It offers insights into creating rich play environments, observing and documenting children’s play, and using play as a context for promoting learning and development in early childhood settings.

      Jones, E., & Reynolds, G. (2014). The Play’s the Thing: Teachers’ Roles in Children’s Play. Teachers College Press.


    6. Playful Teaching, Learning Games: New Tool for Digital Classrooms by Nicola Whitton

      Whitton’s book examines the role of digital games in promoting playful learning experiences in educational settings. It explores how game-based approaches can engage learners, foster collaboration, and enhance learning outcomes across various subjects and age groups.

      Whitton, N. (2014). Playful Teaching, Learning Games: New Tool for Digital Classrooms. Routledge.


    7. The Role of Play in Human Development by Anthony D. Pellegrini

      Pellegrini’s book provides an overview of research on the importance of play in human development. It examines how play contributes to cognitive, social, and emotional growth from infancy through adulthood, drawing on evolutionary, cultural, and psychological perspectives.

      Pellegrini, A. D. (2009). The Role of Play in Human Development. Oxford University Press.


    8. Playful Inquiry: Engaging with the World through Inquiry and Play by Christa Flores

      Flores’ book explores the intersection of inquiry-based learning and playful approaches in education. It offers practical strategies and examples for integrating inquiry and play across different age levels and subject areas, promoting active engagement and deep understanding.

      Flores, C. (2019). Playful Inquiry: Engaging with the World through Inquiry and Play. Pacific Educational Press.


    9. Play and Learning in Early Childhood Settings: International Perspectives edited by Marilyn Fleer and Bert van Oers

      This edited volume brings together contributions from scholars around the world, examining the cultural and contextual factors influencing play and learning in early childhood settings. It offers diverse perspectives on play-based pedagogies, curriculum approaches, and policy initiatives from different countries.

      Fleer, M., & van Oers, B. (Eds.). (2010). Play and Learning in Early Childhood Settings: International Perspectives. Springer.


    10. Playing to Learn: The Role of Play in the Early Years by Sandra Smidt

      Smidt’s book explores the theoretical foundations and practical applications of play-based learning in early childhood education. It discusses the characteristics of meaningful play, the role of the adult in supporting play, and the connections between play and children’s holistic development.

      Smidt, S. (2009). Playing to Learn: The Role of Play in the Early Years. Routledge.