Synopses & Reviews
All children play. But many people don't know the importance of play and its relationship to child development. This book offers important research on the topic of play, stressing its significant role in children's lives. This book offers a comprehensive look at children's play from birth to adolescence. Stressing the developmental and psychological importance of play, it discusses the relationship of play to the physical, social, intellectual and emotional growth of the child. Increased attention is paid to educational issues in this edition, and numerous vignettes are included throughout the book to illustrate the value of play. Topics include gender differences in play, intellectual development and play, and play in special populations, amongst others. Early childhood educators and administrators, psychologists, social workers, and university professors.
Table of Contents
Each chapter concludes with “Summary,” “Key Terms,” and “Putting Theory into Practice.” Preface.
1. Historical and Theoretical Viewpoints.
A Definition of Play.
The History of Play in the Western World.
Theories of Play.
2. Ethological and Cultural Perspectives.
Characteristics of Animal Play.
Cultural Differences in Play.
Cultural Differences in Symbolic Play.
3. The First Two Years of Life.
Exploration and Play.
Types of Infant Play.
Social Aspects of Infant and Toddler Play.
4. The Preschool Years: From Two to Five.
The Two-Year-Old.
The Three-Year-Old.
The Four-Year-Old.
The Five-Year-Old.
General Patterns of Play.
Factors That Influence Preschool Play.
5. Play in Later Childhood and Adolescence.
General Characteristics of the School-Age Child.
General Characteristics of the Adolescent.
Play in Middle Childhood.
Adolescent Play.
6. Gender Differences in Play.
The Concept of Gender.
Toy Selection.
Fantasy Play.
Rough-and-Tumble Play.
Games-with-Rules.
7. Play in Special Populations.
Children with Physical Disabilities.
Children with Intellectual Impairments.
The Child with Emotional Problems.
Children with Disabilities in Classroom Settings.
The Child Under Stress.
8. Play and Intellectual Development.
Play Materials.
Language Play and Language Development.
Play, Creativity, and Problem Solving.
9. The Social Benefits of Play.
What Is Social Play?
Benefits of Social Play.
10. The Uses of Play in Therapy.
The Therapeutic Value of Play.
Approaches to Play Therapy.
Does Play Really Help?
Glossary.
Bibliography.
Subject Index.
Author Index.