Rethinking Children's Play

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 will apply a playwork perspective to the full 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.

Part I: Debates, Dilemmas and Challenges \ 1. What is Play? \ 2. Play Deprivation \ Part II: Contemporary Issues \ 3. Play and Social Institutions \ 4. Play and Schools \ 5. Play and Other Institutional Settings \ 6. Play and Informal Settings \ Part III: Implications for Children's Lives \ 7. Playwork in Practice \ 8. Conclusions \ Further Reading and Bibliography \ Index