PSYC 242 - Understanding Children’s Play

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the fundamental importance of play. Emphasis is on understanding the complex, organizing purpose of play. The course takes a broad approach to examining how and why children play. Specific topics include theories of play, play in the context of technology, the therapeutic use of play, and play in cultural contexts.

Prerequisite ENGL 101.

A. Explain theoretical viewpoints on children’s play. 

B. Describe cultural perspectives on children’s play.  

C. Examine children’s play through a developmental framework. 

D. Describe gender differences in children’s play. 

E. Explain play differences in special populations. 

F. Recognize the use of play as a therapeutic tool.

Content
A. Play theory 

B. Culture and play 

C. Child development  

D. Gender and play 

E. Special populations 

F. Play therapy 

Student Evaluation
A. Essay and objective examinations, play observations. 

B. Essay and objective examinations.  

C. Essay and objective examinations, written assignments. 

D Essay and objective examinations, play observations. 

E. Essay and objective examinations. 

F. Essay and objective examinations, written assignment. 

Bibliography
Axline, V. M. (1964). Dibs in search of self.  New York, NY: Random House.  

Elkind, D. (2007).  The power of play: Learning what comes naturally. Philadelphia, PA: Perseus Books. 

Fraiberg, S. H., & Brazelton, T. B. (1996).  The magic years: Understanding and handling the problems of early childhood.  New York, NY:  Fireside Books. 

George-Scarlett, W., Naudeau, S., Salonius-Pasternak, D., & Ponte, I. (2005). Children’s play.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 

Gill, E., & Selekman, M. D., (2016).  Play in family therapy (2nd ed.). New York, NY:  Guilford Press. 

Kemple, K. (2017).  Planning for play:  Strategies for guiding preschool learning.  Lewisville, NC: Gryphon House.   

Perry, B. D., & Szalavitz, M. (2017).  The boy who was raised as a dog: And other stories from a child psychiatrist’s notebook.  New York, NY: Basic Books.

Webb, N. B., & Terr, L. C. (2015).  Play therapy with children and adolescents in crisis (4th ed.).  New York, NY: Guilford Press.