PEDAL Hub Library

Across a number of countries, play-based learning is the mandated pedagogy in early years’ curricula. However, a lack of consensus remains both in research and practice regarding the value and role of play in children’s learning. This scoping review analyses 168 articles addressing play-based learning for 4–5 year old children divided into three categories: research on play for developmental learning, research on play for academic learning and factors influencing play in kindergarten classrooms. Much of the research endorsed play as fulfilling an important role in early learning. However, two disparate perspectives concerning the role of play for developmental versus academic learning demonstrate different orientations towards the value and potential benefits of play. Research focused on developmental learning endorsed the use of free play and a passive teacher role, while research focused on academic learning endorsed teacher-directed and mutually directed play where the teacher fulfills an active play role. A similar lack of consensus was found among research with educators regarding the role and benefits of play. These findings indicate a need to move away from a binary stance regarding play and towards an integration of perspectives and practices, with different types of play perceived as complementary rather than incompatible.

The International Toy Research Association (ITRA) is an association, which was created in 1993 for the purpose of promoting, stimulating and encouraging toy and plaything research all over the world in order to broaden and spread knowledge about toys and promote the development of good toys for children. ITRA further aims to support and cooperate with local, national, and international organizations having the same purposes, to organize and arrange meetings and issue publications concerning the purpose of the association. The International Toy Research Association currently comprises 96 members from 18 countries. ITRA is run by an executive Board, which is elected every three years in ITRA conferences.

The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) is the premier professional organization in academia dedicated to interdisciplinary research and theory construction concerning play throughout the world. Presently the Association publishes a quarterly newsletter titled Play Review and an annual volume titled Play & Culture Studies. The Association’s broad multidisciplinary focus includes the fields of anthropology, biology, communication studies, cultural studies, dance, ecology, education, ethology, folklore, history, kinesiology, leisure studies, musicology, philosophy, psychology, recreation, sociology, and the arts.

Do we build playgrounds? Yes we do – but that’s only one of the many ways we work to get more children out playing in London. As well as actually creating opportunities for children to play ourselves, by building play areas or running events, we support other local organisations, groups or individuals to do the same. We help play activators learn from one another, offer advice, support and information, and lobby for children’s right to play across London.

Milton Keynes Play Association is one of the longest running charitable organisations in Milton Keynes, with over 40 years’ experience of supporting child-centred play. We have two core aims: Making Play Happen – we want all children in Milton Keynes and the surrounding area to have the opportunity to direct their own play in an open and accessible environment. Making Play Matter – we want to ensure that the statutory, private, voluntary and community sector understand the value of child-centred, free-play, and that organisations that work with children are trained and resourced to provide high quality play opportunities. As a social enterprise we sell goods and services that deliver social impact. We are entrepreneurial and business focussed in order to achieve our core values. Our values Everything that Milton Keynes Play Association does is underpinned by four core values: Being child-centred – valuing the quality of life that children can create for themselves. Providing advocacy – advocating for self-directed play and learning. Innovative – being prepared to embrace new play practice and promote leading edge ideas. Enabling change – effecting change to other people’s practice through our own. We work with partners who share our value system and are committed to providing high quality play opportunities to children and families across Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.

OPAL was developed during my time as Play Adviser working for the Learning and School Effectiveness Service of South Gloucestershire Council. The Council has transferred the rights to the new OPAL Community Interest Company so that other schools in the UK and beyond will be able to benefit from the programme. I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution the Council have made to the development of play in schools and to thank them for allowing other schools the chance to benefit from the OPAL play in schools programme. Michael Follett OPAL Director

The National Institute for Play is a 501c(3) non-profit public benefit corporation committed to bringing the unrealized knowledge, practices and benefits of play into public life. It is gathering research from diverse play scientists and practitioners, initiating projects to expand the clinical scientific knowledge of human play and translating this emerging body of knowledge into programs and resources which deliver the transformative power of play to all segments of society.

Fair Play for Children, founded in 1972 by Trevor Huddleston, exists to promote the Child’s Right to Play as contained in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: States Parties … recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts … shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational, and leisure activity. The Fair Play For Children Association, which campaigns for the Right to Play, consists of a subscribing, supporting membership (Individual, Local Group, Statutory Authority/Trades Union, Regional, National Voluntary and Commercial). It lobbies for change in Government Policy and practice, advises e.g. parents and local communities on play- related issues, publishes an online news service, and brings playworkers, other professionals, organisations and activists together to share information, experiences and resources Fair Play for Children works co-operatively with other agencies, and through Play England (formerly The Children’s Play Council) of which it is a founder member.

‘Playing Out’ is a movement as well as an organisation. Many hundreds of people across the UK are working to activate a culture of playing out in their own streets and a growing number have become ‘area activators’, helping to establish the idea across their city or neighbourhood. The organisation consists of a small team of staff and freelancers based in Bristol, steered by a voluntary board of directors with help from a wider group of ‘expert friends‘.

Right To Play is a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. It was founded in 20​00 by Johann Olav Koss, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and social entrepreneur. Through sports and games, we help children build essential life skills and better futures, while driving social change in their communities with lasting impact​.