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Toys and the Creation of Cultural Play Scripts

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Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Play from Birth and Beyond

Abstract

This chapter aims to discuss play in early childhood education (ECE) practices in contemporary societies through a study of objects as mediational tools in children’s play. The chapter builds on Vygotsky’s theory of the development of play and the way in which meaning comes to dominate objects and actions. In the empirical study, the use of objects in play with four children is analysed. The analysis reveals the complexity of creating cultural play scripts (narrative scenarios). The study found that it is the objects available and used rather than the children’s ideas and fantasies that co-constitute the meaning of the play. The study actualises the need to view teachers as more knowledgeable others in acting within imaginary framings and creating a proximal zone of development in play-based practice. This issue is discussed in terms of teaching in and through play in ECE. The role of ECE in supporting children to appropriate cultural tools of a general character is considered fundamental to creating equal learning opportunities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, Communication and Learning, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden

    Anne Kultti & Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson

Authors
  1. Anne Kultti
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  2. Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson
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Correspondence to Anne Kultti .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Sandra Lynch

  2. The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Deborah Pike

  3. The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Cynthia à Beckett

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Kultti, A., Samuelsson, I.P. (2017). Toys and the Creation of Cultural Play Scripts. In: Lynch, S., Pike, D., à Beckett, C. (eds) Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Play from Birth and Beyond. International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development, vol 18. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2643-0_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2643-0_13

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-2641-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-2643-0

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