{"product_id":"children-and-play-understanding-childrens-worlds-hardback-9780631235217","title":"Children and Play; Understanding Children's Worlds (Hardback) 9780631235217","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eChildren and Play\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eUnderstanding Children's Worlds\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Peter Smith is to be congratulated for producing the first truly comprehensive synthesis on the subject of juvenile play. The work's breadth and thoroughness make it the definitive reference, while the quality of the prose enables the book's use as a textbook. Smith's treatment of methodology and theoretical history is especially thorough and insightful.  \u003cp\u003eSmith's unique contribution to play scholarship has been his identification of the play ethos. This social movement has had a distorting effect on research by inflating evidence for the value of play for children and of the necessity for parent-child play. In this volume, Smith almost surgically removes the play ethos cataract that obscures play scholarship. In doing so he reminds us that there are still many important questions regarding juvenile play which await serious research.\"\u003cbr\u003e –\u003cb\u003eProfessor David F. Lancy\u003c\/b\u003e, Anthropology, Utah State University, USA\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Peter Smith's book, \u003ci\u003eChildren and Play\u003c\/i\u003e, is what one would expect from one of the leading figures in the field of play. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of evolutionary theory and the human developmental and comparative play literatures, Smith presents a comprehensive picture of the complexities of the place of play in human development as well as measured analyses of its place in schools. This book is a crowning achievement to his close to 40 years of careful study of the field. I learned a great deal from it.\"\u003cbr\u003e –\u003cb\u003eProfessor Anthony D. Pellegrini\u003c\/b\u003e, Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, USA\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"This book is an excellent synthesis of what is currently known about the play of children. Peter Smith, one of the leading play researchers of our time, sheds new light on some long-debated issues such as the definition of play, play’s role in development and evolution, and the relationship between play and culture. In addition, individual chapters provide rich detail about particular types of play, including the much neglected category of physical play. The volume concludes with a very interesting discussion of practical issues, including parental involvement in play, play's role in education, the importance of school recess, and war play. I was very impressed with Professor Smith’s balanced, objective discussion of play research.  He effectively argues for a “middle way” of viewing play, a view that neither idealizes nor denigrates its importance in the lives of children.\"\u003cbr\u003e –\u003cb\u003eProfessor James Christie\u003c\/b\u003e, Curriculum and Instruction, Arizona State University, USA\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003ePeter K. Smith (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780631235217, Wiley\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 17 April 2009\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e272 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.9 x 16 x 2.1 cm, 0.54 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThe 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.  \u003cp\u003eUsing 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.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWith its comprehensive coverage of theoretical, historical, cross-cultural, and evolutionary perspectives, \u003ci\u003eChildren and Play\u003c\/i\u003e holds significant insights for parents, educators, and clinicians.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eContents\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeries Editor’s Preface\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eviii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ex\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 1 An Introduction to Play 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhy Play? 1\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExamples of What Is and What Is Not Play 2\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacteristics of Playful Behavior 4\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTypes of Play 8\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThings That Are Probably Not Play: Exploration, Stereotypic Behavior, Work, Rule-Governed Games 10\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMethods of Studying Play 12\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlan of the Book 20\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 2 A Brief History of the Study of Play and of Play Theories 21\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarly European Educators and the Role of Play 22\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvolutionary Theory and Play: Darwin, Spencer, and Groos 24\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePsychoanalytic Perspectives on Play 27\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Play Ethos 27\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnthropological Perspectives on Play 30\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePsychological Perspectives: Vygotsky and Piaget 31\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDevelopmental Sequences in Play: Piaget, Smilansky, Rubin 35\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMore Recent Play Theorists 39\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 3 Animal Play: Definitions and Descriptions 41\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePossible Play in Birds, Lower Vertebrates, and Invertebrates 41\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlay in Mammals 44\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSome Examples of Mammalian Play 46\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDo All Mammals Play? 52\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlay in Monkeys and Apes 54\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 4 Animal Play: Theoretical Perspectives on Function 62\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTheories and Evidence Concerning the Evolution and Adaptive Value of Animal Play 62\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExamining Possible Benefits of Play 70\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGeneral Views on the Benefits of Play 70\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Possible Relevance for Human Play of Studying Animal Play 77\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 5 Play in Different Cultures 80\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(author: Yumi Gosso) Parakanã Children 81\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFactors Contributing to Cultural Similarities and Differences 85\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimilarities and Differences across Cultures 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 6 Physical Activity Play: Exercise Play and Rough-and-Tumble 99\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStages in Physical Activity Play 100\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRough-and-Tumble Play 104\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSex Differences in Physical Activity Play 113\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFunctions of Physical Activity Play 115\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 7 Object Play 124\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSensorimotor or Functional Play 124\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeyond the Sensorimotor Period 131\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFunctions of Object Play 134\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExperiments with Object Play and Creative Problem-Solving 140\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 8 Pretend Play: Description 148\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDefinitions of Pretend or Fantasy Play 148\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Development of Pretend Play in Children 155\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSolitary and Social Pretend Play 157\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSociodramatic Play 158\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eImaginary Companions 159\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDistinguishing Fantasy and Reality 161\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender Differences 163\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePretend Play and Friendship 163\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther Factors Affecting Pretend Play 165\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Universal Human Feature? 166\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChildren with Autism 167\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePretend Play as a Lifespan Activity? 168\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 9 Pretend Play: Theories and Functions 170\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eArguments for Benefits of Pretend or Fantasy Play 170\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTheories Concerning the Function of Pretend Play 172\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eModels of the Role of Pretend Play in Development 178\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvidence for the Functions of Pretend Play 180\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExperimental Studies 188\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 10 Some Practical Issues Concerning Play 194\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Role of Parents in Encouraging and Structuring Children’s Play 194\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Role of Play in the Early Childhood Curriculum: Play Training 196\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAttitudes to War Play 197\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Arguments For (and Against) Recess Breaks 201\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Role of Play in Helping Children under Stress, or with Illness or Disability 205\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 11 Concluding Comments: Play and the Middle Way 213\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlay: Ignored or Idealized? 213\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReferences 218\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAuthor Index 247\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSubject Index 253\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Psychology [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Psychology\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Psychology%20%5BJM%5D%22\"\u003eJM\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52406462251288,"sku":"9780631235217","price":92.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9780631235217.jpg?v=1784138407","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/children-and-play-understanding-childrens-worlds-hardback-9780631235217","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}