Value of Play Book

Acknowledgements x

Introduction 1

What will be covered in this book 2

1 What do we mean by play? 6

Defining play 7

Playing - just for children? 8

A definition of play 11

The play process 12

Notes 16

2 What gets in the way of children playing? 18

Family and friends 19

Legislation impacting on children 21

Influences of the media 22

Concerns with 'safety' 24

Children need to take risks 25

Notes 28

3 Why is play valuable? 30

Ways of looking at play 32

The Integral Play Framework 33

Levels of ability and understanding 37

Different types of play - play types 45

Notes 48

4 Playing actively 50

Starting early 52

Using our bodies actively 58

Supporting access to the wider environment 59

Enhancing spaces for play 64

Using the elements 68

Notes 71

5 Playing through feelings and thoughts 73

How the brain and mind work 74

Perceptual play 77

Impulsive play 77

Emotional play 78

Imaginative play 79

Getting serious - deep play 81

All in the mind? 84

Notes 85

6 Playing through culture 87

Influences on cultural play 88

Games that children play 90

Playful and creative approaches 92

Play with roles 95

Rituals and play 100

Notes 101

7 Playing with others 103

Playing at home 104

Playing in groups 105

Children and gender 109

Communication play 110

Social play 112

Participation - listening to children and young people 114

Playing globally 119

Notes 120

8 Grown-up play 122

How adults play 124

Staying playful 128

A 'beautiful intelligence' 130

Daemon or Demon 134

A playful intelligence 136

Notes 138

9 A play history - From Plato to the play ethic 140

Notes 152

10 The Every Child Mattersframework in England 154

Playwork services' contribution to the Every Child Matters outcomes 155

Notes 157

Appendix 158

References 159

Index 163