Twenty years after Gordon Sturrock and the late Professor Perry Else’s 'Colorado Paper' introduced the Play Cycle, this theory of play now supports professional playwork practice, training and education. The Play Cycle: Theory, Research and Application is the first book of its kind to explain the theoretical concept of the Play Cycle, supported by recent research, and how it can be used as an observational method for anyone who works with children in a play context. The book investigates the understandings of the Play Cycle within the playwork field over the last 20 years, and its future application. It addresses each aspect of the Play Cycle (metalude, play cue, play return, play frame, loop and flow and annihilation) and combines the theoretical aspect of the Play Cycle with empirical research evidence. The book also provides an observational tool for people to observe and record play cycles. This book will appeal to playworkers, teachers, play therapists and professionals working in other contexts with children, such as hospitals and prisons. It will support practitioners and students in learning about play and provide lecturers and trainers with a new innovative teaching and training aide.

The second edition of Play in the Early Years provides a comprehensive introduction to pedagogy and play in early years education settings. Drawing on classical and contemporary theories, this text examines social, cultural and institutional approaches to play, and explores a range of strategies for successfully integrating play into classrooms. Thoroughly revised to include the latest methods and research, this edition features new material on intentional teaching, play as learning, digital play, and discipline-specific content. Two new chapters discuss post-structuralist and cultural-historical conceptions of play, and extended practical examples link pedagogical practice to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Australian Curriculum. The text is pedagogically rich, and each chapter is supported by a comprehensive companion website which provides links to videos, readings and supplementary activities. Freshly presented in a new full colour layout and written in an engaging style, Play in the Early Years remains an essential resource for pre-service students and practitioners.

Understanding Children's Development is the UK's best-selling developmental psychology textbook and has been widely acclaimed for its international coverage and rigorous research-based approach. This dynamic text emphasizes the practical and applied implications of developmental research. It begins by introducing the ways in which psychologists study developmental processes before going on to consider all major aspects of development from conception through to adolescence.

"This book is a must-read..." This book gives you the clarity, answers, confidence, and direction you've been seeking for your life. Read this book and you'll discover a hidden toolkit you can use to craft the life you really want. You see, what we've called a deck of playing cards is actually a timeless system of knowledge that represents the mathematical fabric of reality. And we can trace this knowledge all the way back to 5,000 BC! Did you know there are 52 cards in the deck and 52 weeks in a year, 4 suits and 4 seasons...and if we add up the face values of all the cards, we get exactly 365 1/4, which is our calendar year?! But more important than the mathematical precision is what this knowledge reveals about your life and how it empowers you to make better decisions in your life. Here's the deal: Based on your date of birth, you have 13 Cards to play. Each of these Life Cards represents different aspects of your life experience. In your Life Cards, you'll discover your pathway to More fulfilling work Healthier, happier relationships Authentic self-expression And to be clear, this is not offering a quick fix or predicting the future. Your future is determined by the decisions you make today. (So, if you're looking for a cartomancy-style book to do yearly readings or predictions, this book is not for you.) What this book does offer you is a simple toolkit you can utilize to make better decisions in your everyday life. For, once you find out "what's in the cards" for you, you'll have both the blueprint and the roadmap of your life. From there, the choice is yours... "In his soul-affirming book... Alexander has brought these cards to life, revealing their extraordinary truth." ~ Peter Roth "This book is a must-read..." ~ Marty Katz INTRODUCTORY CLASS INCLUDED This book comes with a complete introductory workshop to help you play your cards right in life. In this 60-minute online video tutorial, you'll learn, among other things: the key to rise to great heights in your life how to stop bleeding your power in romantic relationships the real reason why your life is not the way you want it to be a fun story of a Zen Abbot who discovered his cards to play the crazy thing Alexander's Ace of Diamonds son did a simple strategy for successful parenting What Jesus really meant when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Inspirational success stories with real life examples of what happened for people when they started playing their cards right As part of the mission of his non-profit organization, Alexander is offering this introductory workshop as a free gift to anyone who reads the book. Once you purchase the book, you'll find instructions in the back of the book to login and watch the complete video tutorial for free.

Much Ado About Nothing presents a battle of the sexes in more ways than one: as both a lightning-fast skirmish of wits between two famously disputatious lovers, and a near-deadly conflict built on conventions of gender and male rivalry. Claire McEachern's new introduction brings this best-seller right up to date, analysing recent developments in criticism and the latest productions of this comedy.