Changing the framing of play in times of increased emphasis on readiness

The study investigates how the increased focus on learning and goal attainment in Danish kindergartens in recent decades has affected the framing of play in kindergarten.

The results show that although there has been an increased focus on preparing children for school, the idea of ‘the social child’ is still emphasised.

The researchers compare ethnographic studies from different time periods. The oldest studies are from the 1990s and early 2000s, while the most recent study is from 2020. In addition, the researchers analyse the revised curriculum for Danish kindergartens that was introduced in 2018.

Ellegaard, T. & Kryger, N. (2020). “Changing the framing of play in times of increased emphasis on readiness”. International Journal of Early Years Education, 28(3):218-231.