This book demonstrates clear links between play and Australian education policy and framework documents, including the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards. It provides clear and in-depth coverage of essential theories, including good coverage of the Reggio Emilia approach and provides real life examples of professional practice provided throughout the text. Case studies and questions in each chapter encourage critical reflection on both the theory and practice of children's play. The text includes cross-cultural perspectives, including examinations of curriculum issues and children's play in Finland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Tanzania. Each chapter is accompanied by unique photographs providing authentic documentation of children's learning through play in a variety of social and cultural contexts. This book covers a range of topics highly relevant and of interest to today's educators, including: developing early childhood curriculum; assessing children including the use of learning stories; inquiry based learning; ICT and its use with young children; facilitating leadership in young children; working with infants and toddlers; play in the lives of Aboriginal children; consumer culture and its impact on young children's play; learning through science exploration; literacy learning through play; urban spaces and play including play space in the virtual world; the play-work interconnection; curriculum development and play for children in Finland; and guiding children's behaviour.