Play, Exploration and Learning: A Natural History of the Pre-school (Routledge Library Editions: Early Years)

Hutt, S. John; Tyler, Stephen; Hutt, Corinne; Christopherson, Helen

ISBN 10: 1032349670 / ISBN 13: 9781032349671

Published by Routledge, 2022

About this Item

Seller Inventory # I-9781032349671

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Play, Exploration and Learning: A Natural History of the Pre-school (Routledge Library Editions: Early Years)
• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1032349670
• ISBN 13: 9781032349671
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Originally published in 1989, Play, Exploration and Learning was a valuable contribution to the evaluation of nursery practice in Britain at the time, this ‘natural history’ of the activities of children and caring adults presents a comparative study of four types of provision for the under-fives: nursery schools, nursery classes, playgroups and day nurseries. All four types of provision are seen as happy, busy, caring environments, but they vary greatly in terms of staffing levels, training and material provision.

The authors look at the ‘play’ of three- to five-year-old children and the activities of the adults who care for them. They examine in detail children’s choices of materials and their use of them, with special attention given to the way language is used by both children and adults during play. They also describe adults’ expectations of the various provisions and the values of the activities pursued in them. Of special interest is the emphasis placed by adults upon fantasy play, and the often large discrepancy between expectation and practice. Also covered are the difference in the play activities of part-time and full-time nursery school children, and the transition from pre-school to first school.

The book will still be of historical interest to pre-school practitioners, to developmental psychologists and to educational administrators.

About the Author

S. John Hutt, Stephen Tyler, Corinne Hutt and Helen Christopherson