Dr. Reifel's scholarship addresses early childhood education, with a particular focus on children's classroom play and teacher education. He has edited two scholarly series (Play & Culture Studies, Advances in Early Education and Day Care) and co-authored Play and Child Development (4th ed., 2012). He continues to publish on early childhood curriculum and teacher education. He earned his B.A. and M.A. at Stanford University and his Ed.D. and UCLA.