The current issue presents 16 papers that explore play, fun, adventure, excitement and creativity in early childhood education in all its forms. The issue takes a broad exploration of the multitude of ways that intrinsic motivation is embedded in children’s learning and the ways in which educators can start with the embodied and emotional relationship with learning as described at the beginning of this Editorial.

This study explored how involving children in research forces ethical dilemmas in-situ which require a ‘right here and right now’ response from the researcher.

The aim of this study is to contribute with knowledge about how principals and local education authorities make meaning of the position and organization of the preschool class in relation to these policy reforms and to the existing practices.