This conference proceedings compiles papers presented at the Institute of Early Childhood in July 2000, the fifth in a series examining the challenges which the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy present the early childhood profession in Australia. The conference focused on time and play in preschool education. Paper topics related to the history of early childhood education, contemporary early childhood education, and children's and adult's different conceptualizations of time. Following a summary of presentations and introductory remarks, the academic papers are: (1) "Play's the Thing: A Discursive Tour of Early Childhood Education in Four Acts" (Jan Jipson and Chelsea Bailey); (2) "Trapped in Time: Power, Time and Teaching" (Janet Robertson); (3) "Reconceptualising Time" (Kerrie Trebilcock); and (4) "Passing the Time: Book Ends for the Fifth Conference" (Alma Fleet). Each paper contains references. (KB)