Playwork: Theory and Practice

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.

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.