The Cambridge Handbook of Play
Developmental and Disciplinary Perspectives

A comprehensive collection of multidisciplinary perspectives on the forms and functions of play and its importance in development.

Peter K. Smith (Edited by), Jaipaul L. Roopnarine (Edited by)

9781107192515, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 November 2018

760 pages, 20 b/w illus.
25.4 x 17.8 x 4.1 cm, 1.46 kg

'As societies change, so must the techniques educators use to foster play in children's lives. Each article is well written and accompanied by an extensive bibliography supporting the article's specific focus. One of the refreshing points made is that childhood is its own time and not merely a preparation for adulthood. This volume offers much to those experienced in the field of play and to those new to it.' S. Sugarman, Choice

Play takes up much of the time budget of young children, and many animals, but its importance in development remains contested. This comprehensive collection brings together multidisciplinary and developmental perspectives on the forms and functions of play in animals, children in different societies, and through the lifespan. The Cambridge Handbook of Play covers the evolution of play in animals, especially mammals; the development of play from infancy through childhood and into adulthood; historical and anthropological perspectives on play; theories and methodologies; the role of play in children's learning; play in special groups such as children with impairments, or suffering political violence; and the practical applications of playwork and play therapy. Written by an international team of scholars from diverse disciplines such as psychology, education, neuroscience, sociology, evolutionary biology and anthropology, this essential reference presents the current state of the field in play research.

1. Editorial introduction Peter K. Smith and Jaipaul L. Roopnarine
Part I. Evolution of Play: 2. New directions in studying the evolution of play Gordon M. Burghardt and Sergio M. Pellis
3. The neurochemistry of social play behaviour in rats Viviana Trezza, E. J. Marijke Achterberg and Louk J. M. J. Vanderschuren
4. Fur, fun and future fitness: the evolution of play in mammals Lynda Sharpe
5. Nonhuman primate social play: coping with costs Akie Yanagi and Carol Berman
6. Evolutionary functions of play: practice, resilience, innovation, and cooperation Peter Gray
7. Human-animal play: play with pets Gail Melson
Part II. Development of Play in Humans: 8. Infant sensorimotor play: development of socio-cultural competence and enactive cognition Doris Bergen
9. Mother-child and father-child play in different cultural contexts Jaipaul L. Roopnarine, Elif Dede Yildirim and Kimberly L. Davidson
10. Object use in childhood: development and possible functions Tony Pellegrini
11. Pretend and social pretend play: complexities, continuities, and controversies of a research field Ageliki Nicolopoulu
12. Rough play: past, present and potential Jennifer L. Hart and Michelle T. Tannock
13. Playing games with rules in early child care and beyond Ditte Winther-Lindqvist
14. Troublesome binaries: playful learning on screen and off Fiona Scott
15. Playing and imagining across the life course: a sociocultural perspective Jennifer A. Vadeboncoeur and Artin Gönçü
Part III. Historical and Anthropological Context: 16. Play at play in Western Europe, 1500 and 1800 Linda Pollock
17. Play in foraging societies Adam Howell Boyette
18. Play in South American indigenous children Yumi Gosso, Briseida D. Resende and Ana M. A. Carvalho
19. Play in societies influenced by Confucian values Eunjoo Jung and Sophia Han
Part IV. Theories of Play and Research Methodology: 20. Classic theories of play Thomas S. Henricks
21. Brian Sutton-Smith's views on play Anna Beresin, Fraser Brown and Michael M. Patte
22. Methods of studying play James E. Johnson and Pool Ip Dong
Part V. Play and Learning: 23. Play and learning in everyday family contexts Marilyn Fleer
24. Leading children in their 'leading activity': a Vygotskian approach to play Elena Bodrova, Deborah J. Leong, Carrie Germeroth and Crystal Day-Hess
25. The adult as mediator of development in children's play Pentti Hakkarainen and Milda Bredikyte
26. Play, learning and teaching in early childhood education Niklas Pramling, Anne Kultti and Ingrid Pramling-Samuelson
27. Toddlers' play in early childhood education settings Maritta Hännikäinen and Hilkka Munter
28. Adult and child learning in playworlds Beth Ferholt, Robert Lecusay and Monica Nilsson
29. Play-literacy: knowns and unknowns in a changing world Kathleen Roskos
30. The problems of play Susan Engel
Part VI. Play with Special Groups: 31. Play and children with autism: insights from research and implications for practice Despina Papoudi and Lila Kossyvaki
32. Play and children with sensory impairments P. Margaret Brown and Anna Bortoli
33. Play and children with physical impairments Cynthia J. Cress
34. A typology of play in medical settings Colleen Baish-Cameron and Michael M. Patte
35. Play therapy: theory and practice Elise Cuschieri
36. Political violence (war and terrorism) and children's play Esther Cohen
Part VII. Play Spaces and the Rights of Children: 37. Play spaces: indoors and out John A. Sutterby
38. Recess: supporting a culture of meaningful play at school Lauren McNamara
39. Playwork: a unique way of working with children Fraser Brown, Alexandra Long and Mike Wragg
40. The right to childhood and the ethos of play Lacey E. Peters and Beth Blue Swadener.

Subject Areas: Neurosciences [PSAN], Evolution [PSAJ], Educational psychology [JNC], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Child & developmental psychology [JMC], Humanistic psychology [JMAN], Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Anthropology [JHM], Sociology [JHB], Sociology & anthropology [JH]