This Encyclopedia presents 62 essays by 78 distinguished experts who draw on their expertise in pedagogy, anthropology, ethology, history, philosophy, and psychology to examine play and its variety, complexity, and usefulness. Here you'll find out why play is vital in developing mathematical thinking and promoting social skills, how properly constructed play enhances classroom instruction, which games foster which skills, how playing stimulates creativity, and much more.
In light of recent standards-based and testing movements, the issue of play in childhood has taken on increased meaning for educational professionals and social scientists. This second edition of Play From Birth to Twelve offers comprehensive coverage of what we now know about play, its guiding principles, its dynamics and importance in early learning. These up-to-date essays, written by some of the most distinguished experts in the field, help students explore: all aspects of play, including new approaches not yet covered in the literature how teachers in various classroom situations set up and guide play to facilitate learning how play is affected by societal violence, media reportage, technological innovations and other contemporary issues which areas of play have been studied adequately and which require further research.
In light of recent standards-based and testing movements, the issue of play in child development has taken on increased meaning for educational professionals and social scientists. This third edition of Play From Birth to Twelve offers comprehensive coverage of what we now know about play and its guiding principles, dynamics, and importance in early learning. These up-to-date essays, written by some of the most distinguished experts in the field, help educators, psychologists, anthropologists, parents, health service personnel, and students explore a variety of theoretical and practical ideas, such as: all aspects of play, including historical and diverse perspectives as well as new approaches not yet covered in the literature how teachers in various classroom situations set up and guide play to facilitate learning how play is affected by societal violence, media reportage, technological innovations, and other contemporary issues play and imagination within the current scope of educational policies, childrearing methods, educational variations, cultural differences, and intellectual diversity New chapters in the third edition of Play From Birth to Twelve cover current and projected future developments in the field of play, such as executive function, neuroscience, autism, play in museums, "small world" play, global issues, media, and technology. The book also suggests ways to support children’s play across different environments at home, in communities, and within various institutional settings.
While paediatric healthcare professionals view play as the treatment tool of choice for children under school age, the theory and practice underpinning play-based therapeutic approaches often remain less clear to individual practitioners. Paediatric intervention approaches are increasingly being questioned, and individual practitioners constantly asked to provide evidence-based practice. In response, a more coherent understanding and fresh discussion on children's play and utilisation of play for therapeutic purposes is needed, especially as societal expectations and lifestyles change. Play as Therapy provides background theory and practical applications of original research on play assessment and interventions used in therapy. The book offers a solid foundation for identifying and assessing play dysfunction, understanding play in different cultural contexts and considerations when intervening with play. The practical approach is underpinned by theory, research and case vignettes to explain how to utilise play as therapy with challenging children.
"Wonderful edition to a foundations course; much needed focus on the natural way children learn through play!" —Diane Lang, Manhattanville College "This is the most clearly self aware of the several current works in the psychology of children′s play. It has the unique worth of being unusually comprehensive with respect to play stages, gender differences, private lives, neighborhoods, humor, collections, video games, responses to stress and the uses of recess and play therapy. I particularly liked the demonstration of the continuing role of make believe from early childhood on into the theatric, literary, and electronic foci of adolescence. These four authors are to be congratulated for having brought us as students and as parents an unusually readable text." -Brian Sutton-Smith, Prof. Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania "The authors′ treatment of play is both original and provocative. Unlike most previous expositions on play, they consider not only the social and cognitive dimensions of play but also its aesthetic nature. The treatment of youth sport was especially impressive. This is a ′must read′ for students of play." -Anthony D. Pellegrini, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities "Children′s Play combines uncompromising scholarship with fresh, joyful prose. By looking at both the structure and content of play the authors help us understand the developmental significance of this complex way of being in the world. Each chapter contains exactly the topics we want to study and adds surprises that counter the folk-psychology of today. Children′s Play does more than overview the research literature; it engenders new thinking." -George E. Forman, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst Play is a fundamental value for children-it is complex, beautiful, and important for children′s development. Play is about having fun, being outdoors, being with friends, choosing freely, pretending, enacting fantasy, and playing games. It is about enjoying the moment, and consequently, not about planning for or worrying about the future. Play is a surprisingly complex and significant phenomenon in the lives of children everywhere. Children′s Play looks at the many facets of play and how it develops from infancy through late childhood. Authors W. George Scarlett, Sophie Naudeau, Dorothy Salonius-Pasternak, and Iris Ponte take a broad approach to examining how children play by including a wide variety of types of play, play settings, and play media. The book also discusses major revolutions in the way today′s children play, including changes in organized youth sports, children′s humor, and electronic play. Children′s Play addresses diversity throughout the text and explores play on the topics of gender, disabilities, socioeconomic class, and culture. Key Features Examines how play is used for purposes other than leisure, including academic learning and reducing stress in environments such as hospitals and refugee camps Integrates culture throughout to give readers a true understanding of how culture shapes children′s play Provides rich illustration of figures and photos to portray children in various play settings Includes pedagogical aids such as chapter-opening outlines, boxed material to highlight key points, real-life examples, and a summary section with key words, names, and ideas for working with children Children′s Play is an excellent textbook for advanced undergraduate courses on child behavior in the areas of Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, Early Childhood Education, and Educational Psychology. It is also a useful resource for professionals already working with children including preschool, elementary, and junior high school teachers, daycare workers, and related fields. is an excellent textbook for advanced undergraduate courses on child behavior in the areas of Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, Early Childhood Education, and Educational Psychology. It is also a useful resource for professionals already working with children including preschool, elementary, and junior high school teachers, daycare workers, and related fields.
In light of recent standards-based and testing movements, the issue of play in childhood has taken on increased meaning for educational professionals and social scientists. This second edition of Play From Birth to Twelve offers comprehensive coverage of what we now know about play, its guiding principles, its dynamics and importance in early learning. These up-to-date essays, written by some of the most distinguished experts in the field, help students explore: all aspects of play, including new approaches not yet covered in the literature how teachers in various classroom situations set up and guide play to facilitate learning how play is affected by societal violence, media reportage, technological innovations and other contemporary issues which areas of play have been studied adequately and which require further research.
Interest in Mathematics and Science Learning, edited by K. Ann Renninger, Martin Nieswandt, and Suzanne Hidi, is the first volume to assemble findings on the role of interest in mathematics and science learning. As the contributors illuminate across the volume's 22 chapters, interest provides a critical bridge between cognition and affect in learning and development. This volume will be useful to educators, researchers, and policy makers, especially those whose focus is mathematics, science, and technology education.
While firmly acknowledging the importance of play in early childhood, this book interrogates the assumption that play is a birthright. It pushes beyond traditional understandings of play to ask questions such as: what is the relationship between play and the arts – theatre, music and philosophy – and between play and wellbeing? How is play relevant to educational practice in the rapidly changing circumstances of today’s world? What do Australian Aboriginal conceptions of play have to offer understandings of play? The book examines how ideas of play evolve as children increasingly interact with popular culture and technology, and how developing notions of play have changed our work spaces, teaching practices, curricula, and learning environments, as well as our understanding of relationships between children and adults. This multidisciplinary volume on the subject of play combines the work of some of the world’s leading researchers in the field of early childhood education with contributions from distinguished and emerging scholars in areas as diverse as education, theatre studies, architecture, literature, philosophy, cultural studies, theology and the creative arts. Reconsidering the common focus on play in early education, to investigate its broader impact, this collection offers a refreshing and valuable addition to studies on play, reconceptualizing it for the 21st century.
Covering the developmental range of infancy to adolescence, this book offers a comprehensive study of play--including play therapy, disabilities, anthropology of play, and play environments. It also provides current perspectives on culture and gender differences in play through a blend of research, theory, and practical applications. Focusing greater attention to contemporary issues than other books, coverage includes brain research, play deprivation, therapeutic intervention, and cutting edge information on how and why play is important for children. The book also contains practical material on enhancing play; play leadership; balancing challenge, risk, and safety in play. Other discussions emphasize the need to understand play and children with disabilities, integrate play into classroom curricula, and be aware of special places for play. For teachers and other individuals concerned with child development and early childhood education.
