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Unlocking the potential of play in early education, this book offers a groundbreaking approach to enriching children's learning experiences. Drawing on her extensive expertise, educator Lili-Ann Kriegler presents a practical roadmap for educators to embed conceptual understanding from the earliest years. Through 7 dynamic learning zones, from free play to auto-generative creativity, Kriegler illuminates how to seamlessly integrate concept formation into daily activities, empowering educators to elevate their teaching practices and nurture young minds for lifelong learning.
Accessible and brimming with real-world examples, The Power of Play is essential reading for early childhood educators seeking evidence-based strategies to optimise children's development. With its insightful guidance, this book equips educators with the tools to cultivate rich, purposeful learning environments that inspire curiosity and ignite a love for learning in every child.
"The author's practical approach, drawn from multiple life experiences and a gift for language, makes this book a heartfelt and useful guide for educators. It is characterised by Gregory Bateson's (2000) sociological approach, offering the concept of being sensitive to everyday life patterns that connect into meaningful wholes. This book is not just another resource, but a unique perspective from an experienced educator, making it a valuable addition to any early childhood educator's library."
- Dr Avis Ridgway, Monash University
"In this book, Lili-Ann carefully takes the reader away from binary thinking, where free play opposes knowledge acquisition and asks us to reconsider our roles when working with young children. She invites educators to be active listeners and to see children's engagement and agency as paramount to learning. She reminds us that learning is as much about emotion as it is cognitive, and making connections and transferring knowledge should be our aim. Lili-Ann inspires educators to be intentional and aware of their practices and asks us to reconsider knowledge's role in early childhood education. She introduces us to her "7 learning zones", which are very helpful in analysing the role of the teacher and how our interactions with children mediate learning. It has been a joy to read and has given me another point of view to consider when working with students and teachers."
- Shana Upiter, ELC Coordinator, Mount Scopus Memorial College
"This is an enjoyable book with an approachable writing style that simplifies complex ideas. It's a strength of Lili-Ann's work, and I plan to recommend it to former colleagues and preschool teachers. Sadly, there's growing pressure on early educators to focus on academics at the expense of playbased, language-rich learning. Despite evidence that young children need experiences like these to build a foundation for later academic success, the belief persists that they should read by the age of four or five. I especially liked the section on language in Chapter 7. Lili-Ann provides valuable insights into how teachers can use language more effectively as a teaching tool. I hope this book brings her more opportunities to share her work."
- Kelly Morgan, Canadian author and educator, Expert in Systematic Concept Teaching
