Can I Go and Play Now?: Rethinking the Early Years

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Children of varying abilities and language proficiency were fully engaged, asking questions, and listening intently for signs of the "Shush Monster. If you are looking for a way to change your current thinking and practice then you can do no wrong picking up and reading this book.

Greg reminded us that children (and adults) love to adventure and that, in setting up our possibilities for adventure and imagination, we must not overlook early childhood schemas. He is also the creator of the Message Centre, Drawing Club, and Play Projects, as well as the delightful Play School TV, an exploration of the power of make-believe based on his approach to outdoor play, Adventure Island – a wonderful way to open up a world of creativity, language, story and joy: education done with children, not to them. Out of all the wonderful nuggets that Greg Bottrill left us with yesterday at the Early Years Conference, my favourite was this question for all educators and settings to consider. Discover just what it is that children need from education and why it’s so important for Early Years practice to echo upwards throughout their school journey. and play pedagogy expert, Greg Bottrill, took the time to sit down with us and answer a view questions regarding his work – giving everyone the chance to truly understand what learning by play can achieve when applied correctly.You might do it in certain phases of the day to begin with to take your first steps but if you see the magic of children and all its possibilities then you will want to adventure more. The teachers have gained so much for it as well and found it fun and rewarding to teach and explore with.

As a fellow male Early Years teacher, I really enjoyed learning his approach, as we are few and far between. Greg works internationally with settings supporting their own adventures into the world of play and the magic of children. Topics include early reading and the joy of reading; early writing development; boys′ writing; the nature of outdoor play and how to make this truly ‘outdoor’; the role of parents in child development; mathematics in play; when and how to do intervention work with children; how to get Headteachers and centre managers on board. There is a door that stands in front of all educators and this door leads to the magic of children – it’s where authentic creativity, collaboration, curiosity, story dreaming and joy live. This is a lovely book that really helps practitioners understand and value the importance of play and it's place in education.

Greg thank you for writing such a superb book it’s the beach read I needed that made me think of work in such a ‘magical’ way.