This paper presents data from the Irish Neighbourhood Play Study that explored children's engagement in play. The data raises concerns around recorded instances of no-play in play environments. The instances of no-play were recorded during peak play time periods including weekend and afterschool hours. This data raises the critical question: Are today's children being afforded sufficient time to play? Both the quality of opportunity to play and the quantity of time afforded to children to engage in play are important factors in children's learning and development (Fisher, Hirsh-Pasek, Golinkoff, Singer & Berk, 2011; Whitebread, 2012). The data from the Irish Neighbourhood Play Study indicates that children may not be spending enough time playing in their neighbourhoods. In discussing the data, this paper evolves to explore the thesis that schools should attend to this absence of play by providing play-based education. A justification for play-based approaches within the school experience is underpinned by an evidence-based defense of the centrality of play within children's academic and holistic development.
In a desperate 2020 Covid-inspired pivot, the early childhood team at Victoria University, Melbourne, introduced remote placements for their early childhood teacher students. This was represented through RPEC @ VU (Remote Placements in Early Childhood at Victoria University), and when
an online blog post about RPEC@VU reached Ireland, the VU team were contacted by the early childhood team at Dublin City University, who were similarly introducing remote placement for their students. On opposite sides of the world, each team working in isolation in their own country, these
educators connected to share ideas, insights and inspiration. From the redesign of thinking and practice in response to the pandemic, unforeseen opportunities were generated. This paper presents a case study exploring the shared values that brought the early childhood teams from these two
institutions together and that continue to sustain the partnership. A vibrant international collaboration continues to be built across the two institutions.
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