Call for Papers

In today’s world, the movement of people and ideas across contexts has become commonplace, as has the comparison and exchange of ideas across national borders. Therefore, this special issue of APJRECE will look at the early childhood education sector through a comparative lens, with the special focus of an ‘East meets West’ investigation. Submissions with a comparative, East-West view of early childhood education are welcome. Examples include comparisons of parental views of outdoor play in Denmark and China, or Japanese and Canadian teachers’ views of gender in children’s literature. In addition to this, this special issue encourages papers with a critical view of early childhood education from either an Eastern or a Western context. Submissions could cover, for example, the late school starting age in Sweden for a wholly Western context, or practitioners’ views of the Nuri curriculum in South Korea for an Eastern-inspired article. Quantitative studies, both single-country or comparative studies, are also welcome for submission. The special issue, as a whole, aims to provide a wide-ranging view of contemporary issues in early childhood education in both Eastern and Western contexts. The definition of ‘East’ and ‘West’ is fluid and open to author interpretation. This special issue aims to present a critical view of current issues, challenges, and initiatives from a range of perspectives within the early childhood education sector, investigating the nuances of Eastern and Western educational contexts.

This special issue welcomes diverse forms of scholarship, including empirical research, commentaries, and literature reviews related to play and playful learning in ECEC.

Manuscripts must follow current APA Guidelines (7th Edition) and the guidelines outlined in Instructions to Contributors, which also can be found on the PECERA website and available at the APJRECE manuscript management site. Please note on your cover page that your submission is for the special issue on (Re)positioning Play and Playful Learning in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Manuscripts should be submitted through the APJRECE manuscript management site. Questions regarding this special issue should be directed to Jennifer Chung at j.chung@ucl.ac.uk.

Key dates:

• Manuscript Submissions Due: September 30, 2024 (Early submissions are encouraged.)
• Expected Publication Date: January 1, 2025