Abstract
This chapter considers the nature of play episodes in the context of developing relationships among infants, teachers and parents. The chapter begins by reviewing predominantly held theories of play to highlight how such theories have tended to overlook the social world of infants and their relationships. Then, by presenting data from a set of case studies that explored infant interactions in a long day-care context, we illustrate the ways in which infants' play both reflects and supports their relationships with significant others in their lives. The chapter concludes by challenging the reader to examine how individual infant capabilities - as well as connections between children, families and early childhood staff - bothe shape infants' play and support the development of supportive, life-enhancing relationships.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Play in early childhood education |
| Subtitle of host publication | learning in diverse contexts |
| Editors | Marjory Ebbeck, Manjula Waniganayake |
| Place of Publication | South Melbourne, Vic. |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Pages | 46-66 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780195569049 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |