Children and Play

1. Auflage 2009
ISBN: 978-0-631-23522-4
Verlag: Wiley

Buch, Englisch, 272 Seiten, Format (B × H): 146 mm x 215 mm, Gewicht: 399 g

The role of play in child development is a source of ongoing interest and debate. In this book, renowned expert Peter Smith offers an expansive definition of the term “play”, taking an in-depth look at its impact on children, as well as its adaptive value for birds and mammals, including primates.

Using both contemporary and classic research, Smith examines how different age groups and sexes participate in a wide variety of play, including exercise and rough-and- tumble play, fantasy play and imaginary friends, and play with objects. The book gauges the function of play in early childhood education and makes the case for and against recess breaks in school. How play occurs in different societies and among various populations – including children with special needs – is also explored.

With its comprehensive coverage of theoretical, historical, cross-cultural, and evolutionary perspectives, Children and Play holds significant insights for parents, educators, and clinicians.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Smith, Peter K.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

Series Editor’s Preface

Acknowledgments

viii

x

Chapter 1 An Introduction to Play 1

Why Play? 1

Examples of What Is and What Is Not Play 2

Characteristics of Playful Behavior 4

Types of Play 8

Things That Are Probably Not Play: Exploration, Stereotypic Behavior, Work, Rule-Governed Games 10

Methods of Studying Play 12

Plan of the Book 20

Chapter 2 A Brief History of the Study of Play and of Play Theories 21

Early European Educators and the Role of Play 22

Evolutionary Theory and Play: Darwin, Spencer, and Groos 24

Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Play 27

The Play Ethos 27

Anthropological Perspectives on Play 30

Psychological Perspectives: Vygotsky and Piaget 31

Developmental Sequences in Play: Piaget, Smilansky, Rubin 35

More Recent Play Theorists 39

Chapter 3 Animal Play: Definitions and Descriptions 41

Possible Play in Birds, Lower Vertebrates, and Invertebrates 41

Play in Mammals 44

Some Examples of Mammalian Play 46

Do All Mammals Play? 52

Play in Monkeys and Apes 54

Chapter 4 Animal Play: Theoretical Perspectives on Function 62

Theories and Evidence Concerning the Evolution and Adaptive Value of Animal Play 62

Examining Possible Benefits of Play 70

General Views on the Benefits of Play 70

The Possible Relevance for Human Play of Studying Animal Play 77

Chapter 5 Play in Different Cultures 80

(author: Yumi Gosso) Parakanã Children 81

Factors Contributing to Cultural Similarities and Differences 85

Similarities and Differences across Cultures 95

Chapter 6 Physical Activity Play: Exercise Play and Rough-and-Tumble 99

Stages in Physical Activity Play 100

Rough-and-Tumble Play 104

Sex Differences in Physical Activity Play 113

Functions of Physical Activity Play 115

Chapter 7 Object Play 124

Sensorimotor or Functional Play 124

Beyond the Sensorimotor Period 131

Functions of Object Play 134

Experiments with Object Play and Creative Problem-Solving 140

Chapter 8 Pretend Play: Description 148

Definitions of Pretend or Fantasy Play 148

The Development of Pretend Play in Children 155

Solitary and Social Pretend Play 157

Sociodramatic Play 158

Imaginary Companions 159

Distinguishing Fantasy and Reality 161

Gender Differences 163

Pretend Play and Friendship 163

Other Factors Affecting Pretend Play 165

A Universal Human Feature? 166

Children with Autism 167

Pretend Play as a Lifespan Activity? 168

Chapter 9 Pretend Play: Theories and Functions 170

Arguments for Benefits of Pretend or Fantasy Play 170

Theories Concerning the Function of Pretend Play 172

Models of the Role of Pretend Play in Development 178

Evidence for the Functions of Pretend Play 180

Experimental Studies 188

Chapter 10 Some Practical Issues Concerning Play 194

The Role of Parents in Encouraging and Structuring Children’s Play 194

The Role of Play in the Early Childhood Curriculum: Play Training 196

Attitudes to War Play 197

The Arguments For (and Against) Recess Breaks 201

The Role of Play in Helping Children under Stress, or with Illness or Disability 205

Chapter 11 Concluding Comments: Play and the Middle Way 213

Play: Ignored or Idealized? 213

References 218

Author Index 247

Subject Index 253

Über Autor(innen)

Peter K. Smith is Professor of Psychology and Head of the Unit for School and Family Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is co-author of Understanding Children's Development and co-editor of The Blackwell Handbook of Childhood Social Development and of The Nature of Play: Great Apes and Humans. He has written widely on children's play, especially pretend play training, and rough-and-tumble play.