Place, Pedagogy, and Play – Foreword

When children play, do they learn? “Yes;’ would be the expected answer from child development experts and early childhood educators, and hopefully, parents. Positive responses from professionals not directly engaged with chil­dren and the public at large are probably less likely. Perhaps the question should be more often asked. If we agree that children do learn through play, are where they play and the physical characteristics of those places important? This question is seldom asked and poorly understood.