Children, Play, and Development
- Fergus P. Hughes - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
"Quite simply, this is the best text on play and development I have ever read. It was thought provoking while being reader-friendly at the same time. This work is very thorough and would be an excellent text for undergraduate or experienced in-service graduates."
—L. Kathryn Sharp, The University of Memphis
A comprehensive look at children's play from birth to adolescence
Children, Play, and Development, Fourth Edition, discusses the relationship of play to the physical, social, intellectual, and emotional growth of the child. Author Fergus P. Hughes focuses on the historical, sociocultural, and ethological context of play; the role of development in play; and the wide range of theories that provide a framework for interpreting play.
The changes in this thoroughly updated Fourth Edition include new information on cultural differences in object play, a critique of experimental research on play across cultures, brain correlates of aggressive play in humans and animals, the development of the young child's ability to distinguish between reality and make-believe, computers in the classroom, the development of emergent literacy, and the impact of attachment on children's development.
Key Features
- Offers thorough coverage of theoretical perspectives on play, showing readers how theories contribute to a scientific understanding of play
- Provides an up-to-date review of the literature, with nearly half of the references new to this edition
- Includes a rich variety of pedagogical features that illustrate key points and help stimulate class discussions
- Presents Putting Theory Into Practice sections (two per chapter) that contain practical applications of theory and research
High-Quality Ancillaries
Instructor Resources, including PowerPoint slides, test questions, activities, a sample syllabus, teaching tips, and web resources, are available at http://studysites.sagepub.com/hughes4e/.
"This is one of the most inclusive books on play I have yet read."
“With solid support from research and theory about development and learning, Hughes provides insight into and support for the seminal importance of play in children’s lives.”
“Quite simply, this is the best text on play and development I have ever read. It was thought provoking while being reader-friendly at the same time. This work is very thorough and would be an excellent text for undergraduate or experienced in-service graduates.”
“This book conveys the fundamental importance of play in the lives of children. I feel that professionals in-training need to examine play deeply with a textbook such as this.”
This course was for a graduate class and this book was a bit to simplistic for graduate work.
It was a great book for undergraduate level.
Thank you,
Dr. Carolyn McKeon
Excellent text
An interesting book, but perhaps a little light on theory and research for third year level study. Nonetheless useful for students focusing on play.
Excellent text recommended for purchase and review by graduate students.
Doesn't fit the course yet. May design a course specific to the topic.
interesting, easy read and on a topic very important to child development. very few books are dedicated to child play.issues on class discussion parts are very helpful in organising the lesson and also serve as a guide for students to study.
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 1 - Historical and Theoretical Viewpoints
Chapter 7 - Play in Special Populations