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Children at Play - An American History (Hardcover)
Loot Price: R2,659
Discovery Miles 26 590
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Children at Play - An American History (Hardcover)
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A chronological history of children's playtime over the last 200
years If you believe the experts, "child's play"; is serious
business. From sociologists to psychologists and from
anthropologists to social critics, writers have produced mountains
of books about the meaning and importance of play. But what do we
know about how children actually play, especially American children
of the last two centuries? In this fascinating and enlightening
book, Howard Chudacoff presents a history of children's play in the
United States and ponders what it tells us about ourselves. Through
expert investigation in primary sources-including dozens of
children's diaries, hundreds of autobiographical recollections of
adults, and a wealth of child-rearing manuals-along with
wide-ranging reading of the work of educators, journalists, market
researchers, and scholars-Chudacoff digs into the "underground" of
play. He contrasts the activities that genuinely occupied
children's time with what adults thought children should be doing.
Filled with intriguing stories and revelatory insights, Children at
Play provides a chronological history of play in the U.S. from the
point of view of children themselves. Focusing on youngsters
between the ages of about six and twelve, this is history "from the
bottom up." It highlights the transformations of play that have
occurred over the last 200 years, paying attention not only to the
activities of the cultural elite but to those of working-class men
and women, to slaves, and to Native Americans. In addition, the
author considers the findings, observations, and theories of
numerous social scientists along with those of fellow historians.
Chudacoff concludes that children's ability to play independently
has attenuated over time and that in our modern era this diminution
has frequently had unfortunate consequences. By examining the
activities of young people whom marketers today call "tweens," he
provides fresh historical depth to current discussions about topics
like childhood obesity, delinquency, learning disability, and the
many ways that children spend their time when adults aren't
looking.
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