Rethinking Children's Play

Description

Rethinking Children's Play examines attitudes towards, and experiences of, children's play. Fraser Brown and Michael Patte draw on a wide range of thought, research and practice from different fields and countries to debate, challenge and re-appraise long held beliefs, attitudes and ways of working and living with children in the play environment. Children need to play and the benefits of play are many and varied, but they are too often underestimated by parents, educators, politicians and society in general. The authors apply a playwork perspective to a wide range of settings populated by children, both formal and informal, to explore the idea that children's learning and development derives substantially from their opportunities to engage with a rich play environment that is supportive of the play process. Thoughts are provoked through examples of research, reflections on research, activities, key points and guidance on further reading. Rethinking Children's Play is essential for all those studying childhood at undergraduate and graduate level and of great interest to those working with children in any field. FC Half Title Also available in the New Childhoods Series Title Copyright Contents Introduction to the New Childhoods Series Acknowledgements Introduction Introduction and key questions What is play? What opportunities exist for play in society atthe moment? How are those opportunities being eroded? What happens when play is restricted? What are the possible solutions? Can play be a mechanism for addressing social ills? Part 1 DEBATES, DILEMMAS AND CHALLENGES: THE BACKGROUND TO CHILDREN’S PLAY 1 What is Play? Introduction and key questions What is play? Interview with Brian Sutton-Smithabout his research What are the personal and socialbenefits of play? What new socio-culturaldevelopments are challenginglong-held assumptions aboutchildren’s play? What impact is this having on thelives of children? Summary Further reading Part 2 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES 2 Play and Schools Introduction and key questions How has the inclusion of play inschool evolved over time? Is it possible to implement a playfulpedagogy in a standards-drivensociety? How can we make the case for childinitiated,unstructured play during theschool day? Interview with Olga Jarrett abouther research Summary Further reading 3 Play and Other Institutional Settings Introduction and key questions Should children be required to payto play? How do children play in hospitals? How do children play in prisons? Summary Further reading 4 Play in Informal Settings Introduction and key questions Children’s preference for the outdoors The nature of natural play Interview with Tim Gill abouthis research The decline in outdoor play The dangers implicit in the decline ofoutdoor play Summary Further reading 5 Play Deprivation Introduction and key questions What is play deprivation? Play deprivation in the life oftoday’s child Interview with Bob Hughes abouthis research The consequences of completedeprivation of play Play deprivation and other formsof disadvantage Play deprivation: the implicationsfor society Summary Further reading Part 3 IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILDREN’S LIVES 6 Playwork Introduction and key questions What is playwork? The playwork view of play Playwork in practice Interview with Susan Waltham abouther research The wider benefits of playwork Analyzing the impact of playwork Summary Further reading 7 Rethinking Play Introduction and key questions The public’s view of children The play environment is the whole environment Article 31 and the Charter for Children’s Play Re-educating the public Developing survival skills The importance of free unstructured
play, especially play fighting Play warehouses—the commodification of play School should be a playful experience Stress—positive, tolerable, and toxic The therapeutic nature of play Play provision and playwork Further reading Bibliography Index