<i><b>"I would recommend it to experienced practitioners and playwork students, who seek to expand, update and challenge their current theoretical knowledge. There's plenty to stimulate the reflective playworker."</b></i><b> - Miranda Walker</b>

"[An] excellent book... With its breadth of discourse, it held my attention throughout. ... This book is informative, but also challenges views on the play experience and the playwork profession. It will be of interest to all those that work and play with young children. The place of playwork and playworkers... is described with passion: readers cannot help but be totally absorbed by this book." Early Years, Vol 24, No 1, March 2004

Children learn and develop through their play. In today's world the opportunities for that to happen are increasingly restricted. The profession of playwork seeks to reintroduce such opportunities, and so enable children to achieve their full potential.

This book brings together many leading names in the playwork field, to produce a text that has something for everyone. The in-depth exploration of a range of theoretical perspectives will appeal to both playwork students and practising playworkers. Experienced practitioners offer sound practical advice about ways of improving playwork practice. There are chapters on the role of adventure playgrounds (past, present and future); the challenge of starting a playwork section in a local authority; and the value of networking. Contributors explore the essence of play; the historical roots of playwork; and the role of play cues in human and animal behaviour. There is an exploration of the astounding impact of a therapeutic playwork project on the development of a group of abandoned children in Romania. The final chapter reinforces the need for playworkers to be reflective practitioners in all aspects of their work.

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This book brings together theoretical perspectives and practical advice to improve playwork practice. There are chapters on the role of adventure playgrounds; the challenge of starting a playwork section in a local authority; and the value of networking.
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Introduction

Part one: The roots of play and playwork

The essence of play
Making play work
the fundamental role of play in the development of social relationship skills
Towards playwork
an historical introduction to children's out-of-school play organizations in London (1860-1940)

Part two: Theories of playwork

Compound flexibility
the role of playwork in child development
Play deprivation, play bias and playwork practice
Towards a psycholudic definition of playwork

Part three: Putting theory into practice - the reflective practitioner

Professional playwork practice
Adventure playgrounds in the 21st century
Establishing play in a local authority
It's not what you know, but who you know!
Playwork in adversity
working with abandoned children
Playwork as reflective practice
Bibliography
Index.

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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780335209446
Publisert
2002-11-16
Utgiver
Vendor
Open University Press
Vekt
354 gr
Høyde
230 mm
Bredde
155 mm
Dybde
13 mm
Aldersnivå
U, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
192

Forfatter

Biographical note

Fraser Brown is senior lecturer on the BA (Hons) Playwork at Leeds Metropolitan University. For ten years he was Directort of the playwork training agency Children First, and previously held advisory posts with Playboard and the NPFA. He spent three years on an adventure playground in Runcorn, and managed a range of projects for the North West Play Association. For two years he was District Leisure Officer in Middlesbrough. His publications include Working Together: a Playwork Training Pack (1989), and School Playgrounds (1990). He is currently conducting research into the effects of therapeutic playwork on a group of abandoned children in Romania.