This webinar will outline the Play Cycle first proposed by Gordon Sturrock and Perry Else in 1998 and developed by Pete King and Shelly Newstead in 2019. The six elements of the Play Cycle will be discussed and how adults can support the process of play from four perspectives. The discussion will be supported by research undertaken by Pete and Shelly on adults understanding of the Play Cycle theory undertaken in 2018.

Dr Pete King has a PhD in Childhood Studies and is currently programme director for the MA Childhood Studies and MA Developmental and Therapeutic Play programmes at Swansea University. Pete has been involved in children’s play and playwork since 1996 where he ran his first after school club in Oxford, England. Pete’s research has been published both nationally and internationally in journals and published books. Pete is co-editor of ‘Researching Play from and Playwork Perspective’ with Dr Shelly Newstead and co-author of ‘The Play Cycle: Theory, Research and Application’ with Gordon Sturrock.