EDEC12027 Challenges of Early Childhood Education

One of the challenges facing early childhood educators today is promoting and justifying play-based programs. Our belief in the instrinsic role of play and our belief that it is a fundamental medium for young children's learning sometimes causes tension. Due to the centrality of play in early childhood education, students will explore the role of play as a central tenet of early childhood philosophy and practice. These tenets will be studied in light of the research literature on the role of children's play in learning and development. A variety of curriculum models are explored and particular curriculum areas are highlighted in an attempt to demonstrate the viability of play across all curriculum boundaries.