Understanding Culturally Responsive Play Through Drama-Based Pedagogy

In this chapter, the authors outline three critical professional and ethical considerations for school leaders in early childhood settings to consider when examining the importance of including play in early childhood curricula. Beginning with an exploration of the critical role play serves in the lives of young children and positing that fundamentally, play is broadly supported across the domains of early childhood through theoretical and empirical work as well as more recent scientific support from neurological research. The authors outline a broader definition of play beyond a Eurocentric vision, and the ways in which school administrators can and should view play as culturally responsive pedagogy through the use of drama-based pedagogy.