Children and Play : Understanding Children's Worlds.

Intro -- Children and Play -- Contents -- Series Editor's Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter 1 An Introduction to Play -- Why Play? -- Examples of What Is and What Is Not Play -- Characteristics of Playful Behavior -- Types of Play -- Things That Are Probably Not Play: Exploration, Stereotypic Behavior, Work, Rule-Governed Games -- Methods of Studying Play -- Plan of the Book -- Chapter 2 A Brief History of the Study of Play and of Play Theories -- Early European Educators and the Role of Play -- Evolutionary Theory and Play: Darwin, Spencer, and Groos -- Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Play -- The Play Ethos -- Anthropological Perspectives on Play -- Psychological Perspectives: Vygotsky and Piaget -- Developmental Sequences in Play: Piaget, Smilansky, Rubin -- More Recent Play Theorists -- Chapter 3 Animal Play: Definitions and Descriptions -- Possible Play in Birds, Lower Vertebrates, and Invertebrates -- Play in Mammals -- Some Examples of Mammalian Play -- Do All Mammals Play? -- Play in Monkeys and Apes -- Chapter 4 Animal Play: Theoretical Perspectives on Function -- Theories and Evidence Concerning the Evolution and Adaptive Value of Animal Play -- Examining Possible Benefits of Play -- General Views on the Benefits of Play -- The Possible Relevance for Human Play of Studying Animal Play -- Chapter 5 Play in Different Cultures -- Parakanã Children -- Factors Contributing to Cultural Similarities and Differences -- Similarities and Differences across Cultures -- Chapter 6 Physical Activity Play: Exercise Play and Rough-and-Tumble -- Stages in Physical Activity Play -- Rough-and-Tumble Play -- Sex differences in Physical Activity Play -- Functions of Physical Activity Play -- Chapter 7 Object Play -- Sensorimotor or Functional Play -- Beyond the Sensorimotor Period -- Functions of Object Play.

Experiments with Object Play and Creative Problem-Solving -- Chapter 8 Pretend Play: Description -- Definitions of Pretend or Fantasy Play -- The Development of Pretend Play in Children -- Solitary and Social Pretend Play -- Sociodramatic Play -- Imaginary Companions -- Distinguishing Fantasy and Reality -- Gender Differences -- Pretend Play and Friendship -- Other Factors Affecting Pretend Play -- A Universal Human Feature? -- Children with Autism -- Pretend Play as a Lifespan Activity? -- Chapter 9 Pretend Play: Theories and Functions -- Arguments for Benefits of Pretend or Fantasy Play -- Theories Concerning the Function of Pretend Play -- Models of the Role of Pretend Play in Development -- Evidence for the Functions of Pretend Play -- Experimental Studies -- Chapter 10 Some Practical Issues Concerning Play -- The Role of Parents in Encouraging and Structuring Children's Play -- The Role of Play in the Early Childhood Curriculum: Play Training -- Attitudes to War Play -- The Arguments For (and Against) Recess Breaks -- The Role of Play in Helping Children under Stress, or with Illness or Disability -- Chapter 11 Concluding Comments: Play and the Middle Way -- Play: Ignored or Idealized? -- References -- Author Index -- Subject Index.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.