Play in American Life
Essays in Honor of Joe L. Frost
by
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The research in the book demonstrates that play is incredibly important to the development of children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development as well as to their creativity and imagination. Moreover, play is essential to brain development and is related to the development of intelligence and certain academic and reasoning abilities. Conversely, a growing body of research shows that a lock of free spontaneous play can be harmful to the developing child.
Play is accompanied by heightened feeling states. The fondest memories of childhood are frequently those from times when children were able to play freely in their neighborhoods, on the farm, at the military base, and in other “safe” places. Such memories bring a smile to one’s face, a warm and loving feeling within one’s soul, and a longing for those wonderful “free” years of play. Those of us who as children enjoyed the freedom and spontaneity of such play and the wonder of such places are now witnessing their gradual disappearance.
Tom Norquist, "The Developmental Benefits of Playgrounds Research Creates Numerous Industry Equipment Improvements"
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About the Book
With growing numbers of children living in poverty and standardized tests becoming increasingly important, there’s never been a better time for a volume of essays on the value of play in mental and emotional development.
Mary Ruth Moore and Constance Sabo-Risley honor and build upon the work of Joe L. Frost, the father of play advocacy, in this essential resource for educators, parents, and anyone concerned about the future of our children.
The essays examine play in America from historical, psychological, economic, and other perspectives, focusing on why we should worry about children playing less than they did twenty years ago, the benefits of letting children play without constant supervision, how playing can promote a love of nature, and the importance of risk assessment in play.
Specific articles include: “A Place for Play in the Liberal Arts,” by Michael J. Bell; “Play Deprivation,” by Stuart Brown; “Caretakers of Wonder” by Vivien Geneser; and “Social Media as a 21st Century Playground” by Stephanie Grote-Garcia, Tammy Francis Donaldson, Olive Kajoina, and Norman St. Clair. Several other authors also contribute articles to this well-researched book.
Pay tribute to one of early childhood education’s most important pioneers, and discover the valuable benefits of Play in American Life.
About the Author
Mary Ruth Moore earned her Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin, where she studied under Joe L. Frost. A nationally known early childhood play advocate, she and Constance Sabo-Risley are colleagues at The University of the Incarnate Word Dreeben School of Education, where they work with preservice teachers.