Learning Through Play: Reimagining Pedagogies in Early Childhood
A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102). This special issue belongs to the section "Early Childhood Education".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 31
Special Issue Editors
Interests: early childhood education; play; cognitive development; self-regulation; cultural–historical approach to children’s learning and development
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The words early childhood and play have long been treated as almost synonymous, with few scholars questioning this connection. However, the current state of play in early childhood classrooms has raised concerns among educators and researchers. Recently, the topic of play has re-emerged in response to the increasing academic pressures faced by preschool and kindergarten teachers, pressures that have led to the virtual disappearance of play from classrooms and, more broadly, from the culture of childhood. Given that many of today’s children spend a significant portion of their waking hours in schools or early learning centers, and that their opportunities to engage in play outside these settings are diminishing, it is imperative to ensure that play remains a critical part of early childhood programs. Equally important is reintroducing play into the broader culture of childhood and educating families about its vital role in their children’s lives. We invite you to submit a manuscript for publication in the Special Issue, Learning Through Play: Reimagining Pedagogies in Early Childhood.
Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Effects of play on children’s learning and development.
- Types of play in early childhood.
- Theories of play.
- Assessing play.
- The role of adults in supporting play.
- Play pedagogies.
- The role of play in the early childhood curriculum.
- Perceptions of play among early childhood professionals and parents.
- Play in the primary grades.
Dr. Elena Bodrova
Dr. Deborah Jane Leong
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- early childhood education and care
- childhood
- play
- play assessment
- curriculum
- pedagogy
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