Critical Review of Early Childhood Education Readings Report

This report offers a critical review of four readings centered on early childhood education and the role of play. The review examines the perspectives of Marilyn Fleer and other authors, focusing on the relationship between play, education, and development. The readings discuss various viewpoints on play, including progressive, cultural-historical, and critical perspectives, and their implications for primary childhood education. The report analyzes the theoretical frameworks, including the views of Australian teachers on play, and explores the implications for curriculum design and parental involvement. The review highlights the importance of play in fostering healthy growth, energizing the brain, and bridging the gap between parents and children. The report also discusses the impact of reduced playtime in schools and the need for parents and teachers to recognize the significance of play in a child's life. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of active learning and the role of teachers in creating a friendly learning environment for children.

Running head: CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
Critical Review of Reading
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note

1CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
Reading no. 1
Purpose/s The author has aimed to focus on primary education and childhood care
through this book. This chapter was intended to find out the relationship
between play, education and development at the primary childhood age.
Main or key point/s The main idea in this chapter was to gather insight and evaluate various
viewpoints about play. In the beginning of childhood days, evaluation of
different forms of play in psychology played an important role in seeking
for the significant concepts of play. These concepts included a
progressive view of the play, a cultural- historical perspective of the play
and a critical stand point of the play. These concepts were important for
functioning within the area of primary childhood education.
Theoretical
perspectives and/or
assumptions
There were a number of authors in the early days who tried to establish
their views on teaching and comprehending play. Marilyn Fleer, the
author of this particular book has narrated her experience of silver years
in analyze emerging of play over time.
Conclusions A group of Australian teachers was interviewed to know about their play
experiences, which differed from the play experience of the students.
According to the teachers, play referred to toys for children under adult
guidance. Moreover, children’s play was focused at the use of safe
instruments, organized time and space, playing with the proper toys as
per the age that involves simple activities.
Implications The review of the Australian teachers focused on the grasping of

2CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
significant emotion from the play. Critical reading of the book helped in
shedding light on the fact that unguided and featured group of students
often involved nature rather than adults. However, the activities involved
inflicting injuries, risking life, involving in harmful games, using broken
articles and others.
Reading no. 2
Purpose/s The author has presented the key research and theories regarding play in
the early childhood education and countered those that depended on
traditional, chronological and existing perspectives.
Main or key point/s Marilyn Fleer has mentioned about the issues pertaining to minimal
break and leisure time for play in the school routine. The ending of every
chapter provided a satisfactory feeling to the readers. The inclusion of
historical, developmental and experimental considerations for focusing
on the political and social issues was important for the description of
play in the early years. Fleer has focused on the current educational
scenario, the facts and findings related to children’s play and their
progress as per the theories of the play.
Theoretical
perspectives and/or
assumptions
The author has successfully impressed the readers with a wide range of
knowledge from play in this book by using the important data about
theories and practices of research. From this chapter, it became clear that
in the development and introductory course of children, early childhood

3CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
education influences the theme of play along with the course curriculum.
It acts as a precautionary measure regarding the contemporary trends in
education, which reduces the time of play and the child is ignored.
Conclusions This book has paved the way for the student development course in the
early childhood education. It was seen to be beneficial for their course
curriculum in early childhood education. The top level of hierarchy such
as policy makers, administrators, supervisors and teachers regard play to
be wastage of their useful time. They think that there is no effective
outcome of play.
Implications There are several nursery and kindergarten schools, who took the
initiative to decrease basic playtime from the daily schedule. It resulted
in the mitigation of dramatic activities and games with blocks and
alphabets from the children’s activities.
Reading no. 3
Purpose/s Real- life instances, pictures, diagrams and illustrations have made it
useful for the students to associate the concepts with the practical
experience. The glossaries at the end of every chapter helped in the
comprehension of the prime theories and principles of play.

4CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
Main or key point/s The main point of the chapter was intended at the parents that they
should take out free time to play with their children. The playing
procedure begins at the early infant phase. It is proved to be successful
by the parents when the play gives effective outcome. For instance, when
the child smiles back in response, it gives a successful result on the part
of the parents. As play initially takes place within the child therefore he
is responsible for offering rewards too.
Theoretical
perspectives and/or
assumptions
The author has reflected an organized view of the play, which influences
and motivates the children. It further emphasizes on the willingness of
the children to express their feelings. Playing is considered to play an
vital part in the progress of the children and bridges the gap between the
parents and their children. The initial learning of a child begins at their
home under the guidance of the parents. Therefore, they are responsible
for developing their children by teaching and learning through play. It
helps the children to recognize the rules and regulations and understand
the necessary activities expected from him. They learn the art of adapting
to different situations by learning through play.
Conclusions This chapter can be summarized to highlight the fact that children learns
by playing with their parents and other adults. He uses the equipments
such as toys, blocks, alphabets, and rings in his development years to
involve in the process of playing. Children should develop the idea that
lay is an important and integral part of their life.

5CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
Implications Play strongly influences a healthy growth and development of a child’s
life. It is effective in energizing their brain by linking the nerve cells.

6CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
Reading no. 4
Purpose/s The author, Marilyn Fleer has intended to create awareness among the
parents, teachers and adults about the significance of play in the early
childhood educational course.
Main or key point/s An effective course curriculum in the early childhood education
determines different kinds of play, which are- investigating and
exploring, intended and decided play, events spontaneous play, and life
experiences and focused learning and teaching. In the course of
education, the learning procedure should be initiated where the children
will be able to effectively manage and plan their daily activities by
adhering to the relevant approaches. However, the old learning process
might not be relevant to these approaches. The underlying factors of
learning consist of the established meaning and other relevant factors.
The process of active learning helps in gaining knowledge that involves
physical activities of the children.
Theoretical
perspectives and/or
assumptions
The arguments include essential criterion such as recognizing the course
lesson by playing and involve child and adult activities to determine the
approaches.
Conclusions It can be concluded that a form of pedagogy was explained in this
chapter and it was intended to to build up a meaning with the key
concept and idea. It was helpful in understanding the significance of

7CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
meaning and interpretation in the process of learning. Preschool and
elementary school teachers need to consider the available opportunities
and scope of learning for the children.
Implications The process of meaning and effect on the mind of the learners is implied
in this chapter. When the children get a friendly environment of learning
they get encouraged and grow the ability to understand difficult situation.
They get involved in the task of bringing out meaning and interpret the
situation. This has a major influence for the role of teacher in the
children activities.

8CRITICAL REVIEW OF READING
Bibliography
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (2017). Programming and Planning
in Early Childhood Settings with Student Resource Access 12 Months. Cengage AU.
Basford, J., & Bath, C. (2014). Playing the assessment game: an English early childhood
education perspective. Early years, 34(2), 119-132.
Cremin, T., Glauert, E., Craft, A., Compton, A., & Stylianidou, F. (2015). Creative Little
Scientists: exploring pedagogical synergies between inquiry-based and creative
approaches in Early Years science. Education 3-13, 43(4), 404-419.
Edwards, S., & Bird, J. (2017). Observing and assessing young children’s digital play in the
early years: Using the Digital Play Framework. Journal of Early Childhood
Research, 15(2), 158-173.
Edwards, S., & Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2013). Pedagogical play types: What do they suggest for
learning about sustainability in early childhood education?. International Journal of
Early Childhood, 45(3), 327-346.
Fleer, M. (2017). Play in the early years. Cambridge University Press.
Fleer, M. (2015). Pedagogical positioning in play–teachers being inside and outside of children's
imaginary play. Early Child Development and Care, 185(11-12), 1801-1814.
Fleer, M. (2017). Digital Role-Play: The Changing Conditions of Children’s Play in Preschool
Settings. Mind, Culture, and Activity, 24(1), 3-17.