Reviews - Play
The author, Tina Hyder, draws on
her wealth of experience and
knowledge of working with asylum seekers
and refugees in London, to
bring an emotional and perceptive insight into the lives
of those children and their families who have been
affected by torture and horrendous conditions in their
own countries. Hyder gives examples of case studies to
provide the reader with a realistic overview of the lives of
refugee children and asylum seekers, and dispels many
misconceptions that some readers may have.
Definitions of play, and the benefits it brings, are outlined
in detail at the beginning of this remarkable book, and
how ensuring children have the time and opportunity to
play is essential to their health, development and wellbeing.
It explains that 'play can be a healing experience'
for children affected by war and conflict, and it is
important to allow children to play out scenarios they
have witnessed to make their experiences manageable.
It draws on evidence based research on child
development and theories of play to support the
arguments.
The author explains the basic requirements in the UK to
meet the survival needs of asylum seekers and refugees
and demonstrates how this fits with the UN Convention
of the Rights of the Child. However, many asylum seekers
and refugees live in small, insular communities,
and the book highlights the difficultly in providing
information on early years services, as these are not
available in their countries. The lack of social networks
and poor English speaking skills, provides a barrier to
sharing information and access to services.
It puts into perspective the hardship some of these
children and their families undergo and provides
practical suggestions of play based activities to support
their development. However, as the book progresses, it
focuses more on providing structured play based
activities in early years settings, and I begin to wonder if
the emphasis is on educating the child rather than
allowing the child to play.
Although a fascinating read, I was slightly disappointed
that it concentrated more on children in the early years
and less time on exploring the effects of war and conflict
on older children and how play can benefit them.
Written by Janet Orrock, Play Development Co-ordinator, Northumberland Early Years and Childcare Service.
I must admit that it's taken me a while to get round to writing
this review, because with two volumes, it seemed like I was
never going to be able to have the time to do justice to the
sheer size of the thing. But then one afternoon I found myself
plonking them on the floor, lying on my stomach in front of
them and starting to flick through the pages, and it was then
that it hit me. The memory of doing exactly the same thing
with such weighty tomes as a child; that feeling of
excitement as you turn the page, not knowing what you are
going to discover next and the joy of finding something
completely unexpected out of sheer chance.
And once I'd realised that what I was looking at really was an
encyclopedia, rather than a publisher just using the word
incorrectly to mean 'very big book' for marketing purposes,
then the whole experience became one of pure delight.
Opening Volume 1 at a random place to find 'Gollywogs'
(complete with wonderful photograph) next to 'Grand Theft
Auto' made me giggle; I was excited by the idea of learning
something about play in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(which I can't say I'd ever given much thought to up until
now), and I became engrossed in a decent length article
about the Theology of Play (which I didn't know even existed
until randomly arriving at page 715). If, unlike me, you are
not a 'dip and dive' sort of a reader, then I would thoroughly
recommend starting with the list of articles (which might
have you wondering who or what is 'Ziginette'), or the
glossary (did you know there's a World Rock Paper Scissors
Society?!), or the index (which must have sent the person
who put it together quite barmy as it is so detailed and will
have you asking questions such as 'what has Adolf Hitler got
to do with play?').
There's truly something in here for everyone. 450 articles of
various lengths; a fascinating resource list; articles have
bibliographies for further reading and there's even a word
puzzle for us to do (although I would hope that this was
done for playful purposes rather than out of concern that
anybody would get bored with the actual content!).
I suppose if you really wanted to nit-pick there are a few
things... readers need to bear in mind that, whilst the
contributors come from all over the globe, this is essentially
an American publication, edited from an American
perspective. This means some variation in language (for
example, for 'recess' read 'playtime') and some quite indepth
information about specifically American subjects,
such as individual toy manufacturers. There are also some
rather odd references to other countries, such as India,
Argentina and France, being 'intriguing'. Some readers may
find the length of some of the articles frustrating, as even in
two volumes of such size there really isn't room to do it all
justice. And then of course there's the 'bias' issue - when
individual contributors have the last word, whose version of
the 'truth' stands? For example, who gets to describe play in
Cuba (in an American publication), who gets to
'define' playwork in a reference book
of such stature?
But such objections bring me
back to my original epiphany - this is an encyclopedia and
different rules apply. The books
are clearly laid out and
appropriately illustrated, just like an
encyclopaedia should be. In my
book (all puns intended), it really
does do the job, because the
purpose of an encyclopaedia is to
gather knowledge and then make it
available to readers in a way which
engages and inspires. Readers can
reject individual perspectives, find further information from
the bibliographies provided (and elsewhere) or even
presumably take individual contributors to task if they feel so
inclined as all the contributors are named. Are all the articles
'true'? Tricky question, that. Will you find all the answers you
are looking for? Probably not. But to require that of any book - let alone one that is
as fascinating and complex as the
subject that it is addressing - is unrealistic. Like play itself, I
would personally rather glory in its idiosyncrasies than
destroy its mystery and purpose.
Having said that, there is one serious downside to the
Encyclopedia of Play, and that is its price. At £200, I do
realise that however much I wax lyrical about it, this is going
to be beyond the budget of most individual practitioners. But
libraries, resource centres, local authorities and training
agencies should all buy copies of this to make available for
individual practitioners to borrow. And once you're lucky
enough to be able to heave them home, get on the floor with
them and enjoy... and then don't forget to renew your loan!
Written by Shelly Newstead, Common Threads.
This fantastic little book gives you a good laugh whilst helping you see
risky play from a child's perspective. They may need a little help managing the risks but if you try and make play
risk free not only might you lose all the fun but we could end up with a whole generation who are unable to cope with
even the smallest problem!
Written by Ruth Slater.
This is a large, glossy book full of
wonderful illustrations, pictures and
ideas. A book that appeals to everyone
interested in play space whatever their
age.
Books, I believe, are to be shared
otherwise like great works of art that have been
squirreled away by the rich they become coveted but
meaningless, losing their beauty and effect that could have
been enjoyed by all.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ideas and concepts, even if some
required more money to achieve than the average play base
can raise. My nine year old and I went through picking the ones
that we could use. We showed it to the people petitioning for a
town park not a car park, they took ideas from it and have their
own copy now. I then took it around to my daughters primary
school... they won't give it back! I suspect it is making its way
around our Island like the school bears that travels the world
with their little charges. That last comment will send our Perry
Else into orbit I know, but we need to gently convert not alienate
these treasured concepts.
Written by Deborah Boulter, Jersey.
Links to other review sections:
Activities and Games,
Behaviour,
Management,
Outdoor Play,
Play,
Play in Schools,
Playwork Theory,
Play Therapy,
Playwork,
Rights and Responsibilities.
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