Play, Development and Early Education
By James E. Johnson, James F. Christie, Francis
Wardle
$70.40
Respected play scholars James Johnson and
James Christie join esteemed author Francis
Wardle in this exciting new text on the theorizing
and research of childhood play.
Play is the universal language of childhood.
In order to converse with new generations
of children, today's teachers must prepare
themselves and learn how this form of communication
can be adapted to the classroom. Play, Development,
and Early Education, challenges the reader
to discover what play is and how to incorporate
it into a curriculum for children from toddlerhood
through the primary grades. Utilizing three
major ideas—the quality of play in early
childhood, play as a means of self-expression,
and play as a channel of communication to
achieving social sense—the authors examine
the beliefs, perspectives, and theories relating
to play and what effects culture, media and
technology have on play. In addition, the
text addresses the role of parents in supporting
and elaborating play, the direct connections
between research and play practice, and the
value of play in relation to the total development
(cognitive, affective, emotional, social,
and physical) of all children.
Discover the universal language of childhood!
Play, Development, and Early Education challenges
the reader to discover what play is and how
to incorporate it into a curriculum for children
from toddlerhood through the primary grades.
The nature of play as a mode for learning
is examined through three core ideas: the
quality of play in early childhood, play
as a means of self-expression, and play as
a channel of communication to achieving social
sense. In addition, the text addresses the
role of parents in supporting and elaborating
play, the direct connections between research
and play practice, and the value of play
in relation to the total development (cognitive,
affective, emotional, social, and physical)
of all children.
Praise for Play, Development, and Early Education
“To say that I am impressed with this text
would be making an understatement of the
year. We in early childhood education have
needed such a text for a long time.”
Dr. Ramona E. Patterson, South Louisiana
Community College
“The authors have written an extensive account
showing the scope and depth of children's
play including the current trends, research,
and informed opinions on the importance of
childhood play.”
Regina C.M. Williams, Central Ohio Technical
College
About the authors
James E. Johnson is Professor of Early Childhood
Education at The Pennsylvania State University.
His scholarly activities center around children's
play, early childhood programs, and the educational
role of the family. He has authored textbooks
on early childhood programs and play.
James F. Christie is Professor of Curriculum
and Instruction at Arizona State University.
His research interests include children's
play and early literacy development. He has
co-authored two other textbooks with Allyn
& Bacon on early literacy.
Francis Wardle studied play in Guatemala
and Brazil, and is an international expert
on outdoor play for young children. Currently
Dr. Wardle teaches at Red Rocks Community
College and the University of Phoenix—Colorado
Campus, consults for Head Start, and writes
both books, including an introductory early
childhood education textbook for Allyn &
Bacon, and articles for a variety of national
publications.
Table of Contents
Most chapters begin with “Introduction” and
“Focus Questions” and conclude with “Summary”
and “Projects/Assignments.”
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY.
1. Beliefs About Play.
History and Images of Children and Play.
Multiple Perspectives on Play.
Defining Play.
Current Issues and Trends.
2. Theories of Play.
Classical Theories
Modern Theories
Postmodern Theories
Implications for Teachers
II. PLAY AND DEVELOPMENT.
3. Play, Development, and Assessment: Birth
to Eight Years.
Play Development: An Overview.
Development of Motor Play.
Development of Object Play.
Development of Symbolic Play.
Development of Social Play.
Play Development from Six to Eight.
Play Assessment.
4. Diversity and Individual Differences in
Play.
Gender Differences.
Physical Play.
Personality and Play.
Race and Ethnicity.
5. Play's Role in Development.
Play and Development: Basic Observations.
Brain Development and Play.
Cultural Learning and Play.
Language and Literacy Dimension.
Feature: School Readiness: Educational Value
of Play.
Social Dimension.
Feature: What good is play? Communicating
the value of play to parents.
Emotional Dimension.
6. Play Contexts: Physical Environment, Social
Ecology, and Culture.
Cultural-Contextual Approaches to Play.
Physical Environment and Play.
Social Ecology and Play.
Play and Culture.
Educational Applications.
III. PLAY AND EDUCATION.
7. Play's Role in Education.
The value of educational play.
Types of Educational Play.
Barriers to educational play.
8. Enriching Classroom Play: Materials and
Curriculum.
Relationship between play materials and development.
Characteristics of play materials.
Types of Play Materials.
9. Enriching Classroom Play: Teaching Strategies
and Facilitation Techniques.
Providing Adequate Time for Play.
Preparatory Experiences.
Teacher Involvement in Play.
Linking Play with Instruction.
10. Play for Children with Special Needs
and Circumstance.
Play and Special Education.
Play Therapy.
Child Life Programs.
11. Popular Culture, Media, and Technology.
Popular Culture.
Play and the Media.
Technology.
12. Outdoor Play.
History of Playgrounds.
Purpose of outdoor play.
Different kinds of playgrounds.
Playground design.
Age-related playgrounds.
Safety.
ADA Accessibility.
Role of the teacher in the playground.
Outdoor play advocacy.