Play-based pedagogy in day care works best when the educational staff supports and participates in play communities. But the educators are often in doubt about how much they should step into the children's play - and how. New Danish play-textbook provides tools for just that with the help of H.C. Andersen's fairy tale. The book has already attracted interest from China, where both Danish pedagogy and H.C. Andersen is highly regarded.

Play-based pedagogy is facing an increased focus in both Denmark and abroad. Several studies indicate that pedagogues and educators lack the courage to play, as well as a common practical language for play.

How do you qualify your play practice so that playing takes place on the terms of the play and the children? And when should you, as an educator, step in or give way when the children are playing?

A new book seeks to answer these questions. Play with H.C. Andersen – inspiration to play communities in day care is designed to give educational staff inspiration on how to throw themselves into play with the children, just as it inspires reflection on how adults participate in children's play communities. The plays and games described in the book have been developed through workshops with practicing educators.

"The fairy tale and playful pedagogical approach is much more than merely involving the children. Processes, play, creative activities and products must be co-created based on the children's perspectives and initiatives. All children must have good opportunities to be significant participants in play communities, so they thrive, develop, learn and form in the best possible way. Research indicates that the children remember better and learn more when they themselves are actively participating, thus there is a need for educators who facilitate rather than instruct," says Gitte B. Bork, author and educator of play-based pedagogy.

The book contains ideas for play sequences based on eight faith tales, i.a. The Tinder-Box, The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes, and Thumbelina. The reader is guided via theoretical insight and not least through ideas, experiences and reflections that 15 educational staff in day care from all over the country have gained and shared during trial courses.

Interest from Asia

The book will be launched on August 21, 2023, at Odense Odense Town Hall, in connection with the HCA Festivals. At the same festival, the book will be seriously put to test, as children from day care centers at Funen (Fyn) are invited to experience its content in practice at two workshops entitled ‘Fairy tale play communities'.

Next, the book is expected to go on adventures abroad, says Lisa Johansen, co-author and head of the secretariat in Learn for Life. The association works for providing broader knowledge about and access to H.C. Andersen's fairy tales and Danish pedagogy in Asia through collaborations and cross-cultural projects.

"We are experiencing great interest in both H.C. Andersen's fairy tales and play-based pedagogy from China in particular. Parts of the book's content have already been successfully tested with Chinese educators via a series of online workshops. In China, there is an awareness that play-based, educational approach is important, but the challenge is to put it into practice. In that area, we are further ahead in Denmark", says Lisa Johansen, who expects that the book will be ready for release in China in 2024.

"We may be proud of both H.C. Andersen and the knowledge we have in Denmark in the field of education and teaching. It helps to give people far from here a new view of how to give children a good start in life. We are proud to contribute to that with the publication of this book," says Lisa Johansen.

The book is published with support from H.C. Andersen Foundation and has foreword by professor emeritus in literary and cultural history and former head of the Hans Christian Andersen Center at the University of Southern Denmark, Johs. Nørregaard Frandsen. Writer and musician Benedicte Riis, has been the artistic focal point in the book and at play workshops.

Facts

The book launch takes place in connection with the HCA Festivals at Odense Town Hall on August 21, at 5 pm. Earlier that day, pedagogues and educators are invited to a play workshop at 3pm - 5 pm in connection with the festival's activities for schools and institutions. The book is published by Learn For Life (learnforlife.dk), which is based at Nordfyn Folk High School (Nordfyns Højskole). Actually, the idea for the project Fairy tale play communities with inspiration from H.C. Andersen started with here, with former high school principal Mogens Godballe as prime mover.

Facts about the authors

Gitte B. Bork, former pedagogical psychological consultant and project consultant, works as an independent consultant and educator. She is a trained pedagogue and has a master's degree in pedagogy. Lisa Johansen is a cand.phil. and head of the secretariat in Learn for Life and has worked with Danish-Chinese cultural and educational collaborations for eight years.