Early Childhood Conceptual PlayLab research group
The focus of the Conceptual PlayLab is early childhood play, learning and child development. Our responsibility is to a global community - and we want to support capacity-building for early childhood communities both in Australia and around the world.
Much of the research we produce focuses on the diverse experiences of children and their families in different cultural, economic and geographic contexts. We examine ethnic diversity and the ways in which children can be included in education. We have research strengths in early childhood STEM through funding from the Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship Scheme for a 5 year study of infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers thinking and learning at home and in early childhood settings, and through a national study of an evidenced based model of STEM practice known as Conceptual PlayWorlds.
We investigate the effects of inter-generational practices on child development, learning and well-being. We regard cross-cultural and multi-linguistic practices as of central importance to the experiences of migrant and refugee children, and their access to education. We see education as a cultural practice and not simply as an institutional framework. We examine relationships, social competence, spirituality, and sustainability as central for holistic research and scholarship and where a sense of social community and space is understood as the conditions for development and education.
International Research in Early Childhood Education (IRECE)
IRECE Conference
An international forum, run by the members of this research group, where researchers and students in early childhood can share research endeavours.IRECE Journal
Run by the members of this research group. It is designed to provide new opportunities for the early childhood education research community internationally to expand its scope on a variety of theoretical, practical and policy issues.
Group members
- Dr Liang Li (Group Leader)
- Dr Anne Suryani (Deputy Leader)
- Dr Prabhat Rai (Deputy Leader)
- Prof Marilyn Fleer
Australian Research Council Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellow - Assoc. Professor Megan Adams
- Dr Robyn Babaeff
- Dr Leigh Disney
- Dr Marie Hammer
- Dr Gloria Quinones
- Dr Sue March
- Dr Glykeria Fragkiadaki