Play is integral to early childhood education and care. In this unit students will learn about historical and contemporary theories of play. They will develop a deep understanding of the different types of play, play research methodologies and why play has been embedded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Students will explore cross-cultural studies of play in addition to contemporary issues in play such as risky play and nature play. Students will engage in hands-on learning opportunities and field trips to develop their own understandings of play and play pedagogies.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Reflect on historical and contemporary theories and approaches to play and discuss how views of children's play have changed through time and are influenced by culture;
2. Summarise play research and methodologies; and
3. Advocate and plan for play opportunities for children and their families considering contextual community factors.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline

Prerequisites

Students must have passed 24 credit points.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.