The Dead Tree: Reconsidering Toys in Early Years Spaces

Kim Atkinson

doi:10.18357/jcs.v40i3.15172

The Dead Tree: Reconsidering Toys in Early Years Spaces

Authors

Kim Atkinson University of Victoria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18357/jcs.v40i3.15172

Abstract

Toys are ubiquitous in early years settings. Providing particular toys and grouping them in particular ‘activity areas’ has come to be regarded as an indicator of a quality program. How did this homogeneity of toys in childhood spaces emerge? This article explores some of the assumptions we carry about toys, and considers how social, commercial, and scientific discourses have shaped how we see childhood and toys and embedded particular “truths” in our educational thought. The author suggests that critically reflecting on the role of toys in early years settings can open possibilities for teachers and children to think differently about the image of the child, the image of the educator, and the construction of knowledge.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Kim Atkinson, University of Victoria

Kim Atkinson is an early childhood educator and a pedagogical facilitator with the University of Victoria’s Unit for Early Childhood Research and Development. She also co-coordinates, with Danielle Davis, the Images of Learning Project (www. imagesoflearningproject.com)—an exhibit, blog, and series of presentations that highlights the work of ECEs and the competencies of children. Email: klatkins@uvic.ca

Published

2015-12-30

How to Cite

Atkinson, K. (2015). The Dead Tree: Reconsidering Toys in Early Years Spaces. Journal of Childhood Studies, 40(3), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.18357/jcs.v40i3.15172

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 3 (Fall 2015): Canadian Children

Section

Directions and Connections

License

Authors contributing to the Journal of Childhood Studies agree to release their articles under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International license. This licence allows anyone to share their work (copy, distribute, transmit) and to adapt it for non-commercial purposes provided that appropriate attribution is given, and that in the event of reuse or distribution, the terms of this license are made clear.

Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal right of first publication.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.