Play in childhood

First published in 1935; 'certain minor changes' to 'increase the clarity of meaning' were made in this edition.

1 Historical theories of play. 2 The observation of play. 3 Play as bodily activity. 4 Play as repetition of experience. 5 Play as the demonstration of phantasy. 6 Play as realisation of environment. 7 Play as preparation for life. 8 Group games. 9 The comic element in play. 10 Children who cannot play. 11 Conclusion

'...At a time when every child had room to play, when toys were simple, and simply beloved; when there were trees to climb and seeds and plants and small living creatures to tend and love and watch as they grew, adults took little notice of children as children or of what they did and said....interest in play is relatively new. Realisation of its central importance, both to child and adult, gathers only slowly as civilisation becomes more and more standardised and opportunities for experiment and the experience of spontaneous play decrease. To understand what is happening within children as they play now becomes necessity for all who have responsibility for children, young children, older chindren, children in groups and children by themselves, if these are to grow up into self reliant and responsible adults.' --Introduction to the paperback edition (1967)

Hardcover