Editor & Jane Waters-Davies 
Introduction to Play [EPUB ebook] 

Introduction – Jane Waters-Davies
Part I: What is Play?
Chapter 1: What is play? – Natalie Mac Donald
Chapter 2: Children’s right to play – Jane Waters-Davies
Chapter 3: Types of play – Alison Rees-Edwards
Chapter 4: Play pioneers and their legacy – Alison Murphy
Part II: Why is Play Important?
Chapter 5: Play, learning and development – Natalie Canning & Angela Rekers
Chapter 6: Play, and early language and communication – Amanda Bateman
Chapter 7: Play, creativity and wellbeing – Charlotte Greenway & Laura Hutchings
Part III: Where does Play Happen?
Chapter 8: Enabling environments: indoors and out – Jennifer Clement
Chapter 9: Outdoor play – Glenda Tinney
Chapter 10: Play in the digital world: beyond the binary logic – Pekka Mertala & Saara Salomaa
Chapter 11: The place of play in the Early Years curricula of the UK – Carys Jennings
Chapter 12: The role of the adult in supporting play – Angela Rekers with Mel Mc Cree
Chapter 13: Play and inclusion – Nanna Ryder & Charlotte Greenway
Chapter 14: Play in community spaces – Alex Southern
Chapter 15: Intergenerational play – Margaret Kernan, Giulia Cortellesi & Mariana Palazuelos
Part IV: International Perspectives
Chapter 16: Cultural framing of expectations for play – Angela Rekers & Jane Waters-Davies
Chapter 17: Play in extremis – Debra Laxton & Linda Cooper
Chapter 18: Playful learning around the world – Sarah Chicken & Sarah Whitehouse
Closing remarks: Is play under threat? – Jane Waters-Davies

Dr Jane Waters-Davies is an Associate Professor in Early Childhood Education at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Originally a teacher in London, she has worked in higher education in Wales for over 20 years, leading programmes in Early Childhood Studies, and Initial Teacher Education. Jane now works with postgraduate research students in the field of education and sits on the Welsh Government advisory panel for early years. Her doctorate explored the affordances for interaction and child agency in the outdoor and indoor spaces of the early years at school. Her research interests lie in young children’s play and learning, outdoor play and early concept development, and the professional education of those working with young children. She is passionate about the importance of early childhood educators understanding the complexities of the work they do, being able to advocate for playful learning on behalf of children, and being respected for the tremendous work they do.