The Cambridge Handbook of Play
The Cambridge Handbook of Play
Jaipaul L. Roopnarine, Syracuse University, New York
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.
- Presents a lifespan developmental perspective by exploring how the forms and functions of play change from infancy, through childhood and adolescence, and into adulthood
- Includes multidisciplinary perspectives from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, education, anthropology, sociology and history
- Features cross-cultural perspectives on play in humans as well as animal populations
Reviews & endorsements
'The amount of time that should be devoted to play in early childhood education and the potential benefits it might bring remain contentious issues. For those seeking a larger, cross-species and cross-cultural panorama on play, this Handbook will be refreshing. With contributions from a multidisciplinary set of authors, Smith and Roopnarine have assembled a weighty – but uplifting – Handbook.' Paul Lansley Harris, Harvard University, Massachusetts
'Smith and Roopnarine bring together leaders in the scholarly study of play to create a rich, authoritative resource that provides theoretical frameworks, historical evidence, and up-to-date findings about the many contexts in which play occurs. While each chapter is valuable on its own, the individual contributions are even more significant as part of this collection.' Dana Gross, St Olaf College, Minnesota
'The editors of this Handbook assemble the most current thinking and research on play, ranging from its evolutionary origins and development across the lifespan, to play theory and empirical methods, to its impact on learning and overall wellbeing, to its educative and therapeutic applications, and to the influence of family and culture. Forget the shelf, this book belongs on every play scholar's desk.' Rick Worch, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
'A fascinating mix of play theory, practice and practicalities, this comprehensive Handbook offers an in-depth insight into the complexities of play research. Students and seasoned researchers alike will be challenged to consider their own approaches to play and play research by the diverse biological, sociocultural, theoretical and methodological perspectives presented in this book.' Shelly Newstead, Common Threads
'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
Product details
November 2018Hardback
9781107192515
760 pages
254 × 178 × 41 mm
1.46kg
20 b/w illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- 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.
