Play is generally identified as a basic tool for effective learning and development in children. This study explores the ways in which amorphous or unstructured play contributes to children's overall development at the pre-primary level, helping to develop cognitive, social, and motor skills. The findings indicate that through unstructured play,…

A daunting challenge is affecting education in many areas of the world. Globally, education standards are suffering due to a major crisis in training and support for teachers. In low-income countries, efforts to raise pupil enrollment have been successful; however, lack of focus and policy direction around teacher quality means the majority of…

In 2015, the United Nations ratified the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, several of which concern education. Much of what is targeted for education follows from what has yet to be achieved per the Millennium Development Goals 15 years ago. The top three education priorities per the UN's Global Education First Initiative are: put every child in…

The first six years of a child's life are the most critical years for development, and appropriate health care, nutrition, stimulation, affection, and education are critical for healthy development. These early years also present a window of opportunity to mitigate any developmental concerns. With the right intervention, the child's health,…

Context has a significant impact on the relative success of efforts to innovate in the classroom. Thus, it is important to understand the role of school leaders as both gatekeepers and facilitators within their specific context.

In 2015, Innovation Edge commissioned the development of South Africa's first national-level preschool child assessment tool. The project's key innovations were that the tool should fairly assess children from across the cultural and socio-economic spectrum, be inexpensive in terms of equipment and administration costs, and be administered in…

From the standpoint of mental health and perhaps even from the standpoint of human culture, the complete realization of the educational possibilities of the preschool child is of foundational significance. Normative and comparative studies performed at a psychological clinic at Yale examining norms of development in children from one month to five…

Lucy Wheelock was the 2nd president of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) (1895-1899), then the International Kindergarten Union. She also became involved in the National Congress of Mothers, a forerunner of the Parent Teachers Association. In 1929, she was appointed to the education committee of the League of Nations. In…

Carl Honoré, a noted author, broadcaster, and lecturer, visited GEMS World Academy Chicago, to discuss the "slow movement," which asks parents to reconsider how they spend time with their children. The concept of slow parenting encourages parents to "slow down" to enjoy the experience, thus enhancing the quality of the time…

In autumn 2015, the world's governments came together to agree to 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which promised to overcome a vast array of problems--from poverty and hunger to health and gender equality--by 2030. The UNESCO report "Education for People and Planet: Creating Sustainable Futures for All" charted the…

An examination of the employment market in Tanzania highlights profound differences in the competencies and skills of individuals who have graduated from the local schools from those who have graduated from international schools. Although Tanzania had achieved nearly universal access to primary education by 2007, enrollment of primary school-age…

Akshar Forum, an experimental livelihood school in the semi-rural village of Pamohi, Assam, in Northeast India, tests cutting-edge methods in education in the context of underserved communities and rural development programs. Started in 2015, the school links 42 children and their parents to the vast knowledge resources of the Internet to teach…

The pressing needs of populations with unique challenges, such as immigrants or refugees, often stimulate important innovation in development of educational techniques and resources. This article highlights the RAISED between Cultures model, a conceptual framework for understanding children's experiences holistically and promoting intercultural…

The Development Impact Bond (DIB) is a pioneering new way to encourage private investors to fund international development projects that is 100% focused on the outcomes achieved. Instiglio, a non-profit, Results-Based Financing advisory organization, is providing technical assistance to organizations during the design of these instruments and is…

The HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa has been devastating. Over 200,000 Kenyan children under the age of 14 are infected with HIV and an estimated 1.1 million Kenyan children are orphaned due to AIDS. Nyumbani Children's Home works in communities made vulnerable by this disease and the accompanying poverty to reduce transmission rates and…