Forming ethical identities in early childhood play (Contesting Early Childhood) - Softcover

‘[This book] is a welcome addition to the literatures on play, moral
development, and postmodern theorizing in early childhood education ... It is a terrific example of postmodern scholarship that does not sacrifice complexity for clarify and readability.’ - J. Amos Hatch, University of Tennessee

‘This book is designed to provoke thought ... it dislocates itself from traditional approaches and subverts the language of play.’ - Tina Bruce, Roehampton University

‘An extraordinary theoretical tour de force.’ - Maureen Kendrick, University of British Columbia

"In this thoughtful, stimulating analysis of the ethical dimensions of children’s play, Edmiston argues for the value of mythic play, in which children confront issues of good and evil by enacting heroes and villains of classic and contemporary tales." – CHOICE, September 2008, Vol. 45 No. 11

In a chapter on 'mythic play' Edmiston confronts adult discomfort over children's play with pretend weapons, as he encourages adults both to support children's desires to experience in imagination the limits of life and death, and to travel with children on their transformational journeys into unknown territory.

This book provides researchers and students with a sound theoretical framework for re-conceptualising significant aspects of pretend play in early childhood. Its many practical illustrations make this a compelling and provocative read for any student taking courses in Early Childhood Studies.