Play and Educational Theory and Practice: (Play & Culture Studies)

Combining the research talents of many long-standing members of the Association for the Study of Play, this work provides discussions of the theory and applied value of play, as well as ongoing research from America, Australia, Taiwan, and Korea. The developmental and educational theories of Lev Semenovich Vygotsky are analyzed in several chapters. The world's premiere play scholar, Brian Sutton-Smith, continues his seminal play theory work, following up on previously presented findings and constructing a developmental theory of play based on emotions. Chapters address: • Play as a parody of emotional vulnerability • Learning to observe children at play • Symbolic play through the eyes and words of children • The activities of children at recess in middle school Professors, teachers, scholars, and university students interested in early childhood education, child development, play theory and practice, and preschool and elementary education will find this volume of interest.

Table of Contents:
Series Editor's Note Introduction and Acknowlegements by Don Lytle, Editor Play Theory and Research Play as a Parody of Emotional Vulnerability by Brian Sutton-Smith Simmel: On Sociability as the Play-form of Human Association by Thomas Henricks An Introduction to Research in Psychology: Learning to Observe Children at Play by Dana L. Gross Where Is Play by Patrick Biesty Vygotskian Theory and Scaffolding Putting Vygotsky to the Test by E. Beverley Lambert and Margaret Clyde Play, Activity and Thought: Reflections on Piaget's and Vygotsky's Theories by Rosario Ortega Verbal Scaffolding and Complexity of Block Constructions by Kara M. Gregory, Ansook Kim, and Alice Whiren Children's Playfulness and Learning Levels of Analysis in Pretend Play Discourse: Metacommunication in Conversational Routines by R. Keith Sawyer Symbolic Play Through Eyes and Words of Children by Janet K. Sawyers and Nathalie Carrick Rural Children's Play in the Natural Environment by Betty Beach Children's Play, Humor, and Education Play on Words: Humor as the Means of Developing Authentic Learning by Phil Fitzsimmons and Barbra Mckenzie When I Play Funny It Makes Me Laugh: Implications for Early Childhood Educators in Developing Humor Through Play by Grace Masselos Recess in a Middle School: What Do the Students DO? by Olga Jarrett Questioning Play and Work, Early Childhood and Pedagogy by Jeanette Rhedding-Jones Asian Play Dynamics Play, Racial Attitudes, and Self-Concept in Taiwan by Stuart Reifel and Li-Chun "Sandy" Chang Contextual Understanding of Children's Play in Taiwanese Kindergartens by Pei-Yu Chang Contextual Difference in Korean Mother-Child Interactions: A Study of Scaffolding Behaviors by Joe L. Frost and Seunghwa Jwa Author Index Subject Index

About the Author :
DONALD E. LYTLE is a professor in the Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science at California State University, Chico. He is the Philosophy Chair of the National Association of Sport and Physical Education Council.