This is the third edition of the text that takes to heart the adage: Play is children's work. Believing that play is a primary factor in the development of intelligence, personality, competencies, self-awareness, and social awareness, the authors demonstrate how to draw from spontaneous play both the methods and the content of a successful curriculum for children from birth to age 8. The text introduces the theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, Mead, and many contemporary researchers; explores the traditional curriculum arenas of early childhood education; and, includes discussion of the role of work, adult models, and authority in children's play.