'This Handbook offers diverse perspectives from scholars across the globe who help us see play in new ways. At the same time the basic nature of play gives a context for us to learn new theoretical frameworks and methods. A real gem!'
- Beth Graue, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, USA

Play and learning scholarship has developed considerably over the last decade, as has the recognition of its importance to children's learning and development.

Containing chapters from highly respected researchers, whose work has been critical to building knowledge and expertise in the field, this Handbook focuses on examining historical, current and future research issues in play and learning scholarship.

Organized into three sections which consider:

• theoretical and philosophical perspectives on play and learning
• play in pedagogy, curriculum and assessment
• play contexts.

The Handbook's breadth, clarity and rigor will make it essential reading for researchers and postgraduate students, as well as professionals with interest in this dynamic and changing field.

Liz Brooker is Reader in Early Childhood in the Faculty of Children and Learning at the Institute of Education, University of London.

Mindy Blaise is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Early Childhood  Education at the Hong Kong Institute of Education.

Susan Edwards is Associate Professor in Curriculum and Pedagogy at Australian Catholic University.

This handbook's International Advisory Board included:

Jo Aliwood, The University of Newcastle, Australia
Pat Broadhead, Leeds Metropolitan University, Australia
Stig Brostrom, Aarhus University, Denmark
Hasina Ebrahim, University of the Free State, South Africa
Beth Graue, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, USA
Amita Gupta, The City College of New York, CUNY, USA
Marjatta Kalliala, University of Helsinki, Finland
Rebecca Kantor, University of Colorado Denver, USA
Colette Murphy, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Ellen Sandseter, Queen Maud University College of Early Childhood Education, Norway

Part I: Theoretical Perspectives on Play and Learning - Mindy Blaise, Susan Edwards and Liz Brooker
Foundations of Play Theory - Doris Bergen
Play in the Non-Classical Psychology of L.S. Vygotsky - Elena Kravtsova
Children's Play as Cultural Activity - Suzanne Gaskins
Make-Believe Play and Self-Regulation - Adena Meyers and Laura Berk
Cultural-historical Perspectives on Play: Central Ideas - Bert van Oers
Postcolonial and Anti-Racist Approaches to Understanding Play - Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw
New Materialisms and Play - Hillevi Lenz Taguchi
Childhood Studies and Play - Sue Saltmarsh
Ethical dimensions and perspectives on play - Susan Grieshaber and Felicity McArdle
Gender Discourses and Play - Mindy Blaise
Studying Play through New Research Practices - Liz Jones and Rachel Holmes
Part II: Play and Learning in Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment - Susan Edwards, Liz Brooker and Mindy Blaise
The Play-Pedagogy Interface in Contemporary Debates - Elizabeth Wood
Developmental Play in the Classroom - Stuart Reifel
Children's play and learning and developmental pedagogy - Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson and Niklas Pramling
Play Provisions and Pedagogy in Curricular Approaches - James Johnson
Children's content learning in play provision: Competing tensions and future possibilities - Helen Hedges
Professional Preparation for a Pedagogy of Play - Sharon Ryan and Kaitlin Northey-Berg
Learning Mathematics Through Play - Anita Wager and Amy Parks
Play as the precursor for literacy development - Celia Genishi and Anne Haas Dyson
Understanding Narrative as a Key Aspect of Play - Pentti Hakkarainen and Milda Bredikyte
Physical play and development - Michelle Tannock
Play and Playfulness: Issues of Assessment - Margaret Carr
Part III: Contexts for Play and Learning - Liz Brooker, Mindy Blaise and Susan Edwards
Whose Play? Children, Play and Consumption - Daniel Cook
Children's Right to Play - Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell
Infant and Toddler Play - Jennifer Sumsion and Linda Harrison
Children's Perspectives on Play - Johanna Einarsdottir
Digital Play - Christine Stephen and Lydia Plowman
Play in Peer Cultures - Annica Löfdahl
The Impact of Race and Culture on Play in Early Childhood Classrooms - Jennifer Keys Adair and Fabienne Doucet
Playfulness and the co-construction of identity in the first years - Rod Parker-Rees
Connecting home and educational play: interventions that support children's learning - Maria Evangelou and Mary Wild
Opportunities and affordances in outdoor play - Margaret Kernan
Media, popular culture and play - Jackie Marsh