This book explores how the Play Cycle can help practitioners to observe and understand children’s play and support their interactions with children. It explains the six elements of the Play Cycle – pre cue, play cue, play return, play frame, flow, and annihilation – and shows how practitioners can use this to guide their interventions. Building on the author’s research and including an updated and revised theory of the Play Cycle, the book applies the Play Cycle to key aspects of provision alongside examples from a wide range of settings. Chapters cover:The indoor and outdoor environment and resourcesChild-led and non-directive play including riskThe adult role, play maintenance and interventionsThe Play Cycle and Play Cycle Observation MethodThe Play Cycle in Policy and PracticeIncluding vignettes and reflective questions, this text brings the theory and application of the Play Cycle fully up-to-date and is essential reading for practitioners and those studying play-related courses, for example, playwork, childcare, and early years education.