The essence of play

Monograph

x, 155 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.

"A unique companion to professional play practice! All play professionals are united in their belief that play is important for children's development - and there are inherent characteristics of play that underpin professional playpractice across contexts. Providing an overarching concept of play, drawing together the evidence-base across disciplines and linking theory to practice, The Essence of Play is the ideal handbook for all those working with children. Play acts asa natural resource for children to meet physical, intellectual and emotional challenges and this book, unusually, considers play from children's perspectives rather than adults. It provides a baseline of shared knowledge for all playprofessionals, exploring the fundamental value of play rather than a 'how to' approach to practice. It considers: The therapeutic potential inherent in play; How play reflects and promotes physical, emotional, intellectual, linguistic and socialabilities; The emergence of different types of play skills and why these are important; Cross-cultural patterns in play, gender, atypicality and adversity, highlighting the relevance of these issues to professional play practice; The benefits ofutilising play for assessment and other professional practice issues such as ethical play practice, balancing risk with health and safety and the creation and management of boundaries. This text is designed for students and practitioners workingwith children across the helping professions, including early years education, play therapy, playwork, childcare, social care, nursing and allied health. Each chapter will provide directed reading and small reflective tasks to encourage readersto digest key issues"-- Provided by publisher.