Thoroughly revised after 16 years in print, this indispensable handbook gives step-by-step instructions for over 200 easy and imaginative activities, including arts and crafts, cooking, games, exercise, storytelling, and more for anyone involved with child care--parents or playgroups. Line art throughout.

Play takes up much of the time budget of young children, and many animals, but its importance in development remains contested. This comprehensive collection brings together multidisciplinary and developmental perspectives on the forms and functions of play in animals, children in different societies, and through the lifespan. The Cambridge Handbook of Play covers the evolution of play in animals, especially mammals; the development of play from infancy through childhood and into adulthood; historical and anthropological perspectives on play; theories and methodologies; the role of play in children's learning; play in special groups such as children with impairments, or suffering political violence; and the practical applications of playwork and play therapy. Written by an international team of scholars from diverse disciplines such as psychology, education, neuroscience, sociology, evolutionary biology and anthropology, this essential reference presents the current state of the field in play research.

Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy is the first book of its kind to provide an overview of key aspects of play and play therapy, considering play on a continuum from generic aspects through to more specific applied and therapeutic techniques and as a stand-alone discipline. Presented in four parts, the book provides a unique overview of, and ascribes equal value to, the fields of play, therapeutic play, play in therapy and play therapy. Chapters by academics, play practitioners, counsellors, arts therapists and play therapists from countries as diverse as Japan, Cameroon, India, the Czech Republic, Israel, USA, Ireland, Turkey, Greece and the UK explore areas of each topic, drawing links and alliances between each. The book includes complex case studies with children, adolescents and adults in therapy with arts and play therapists, research with children on play, work in schools, outdoor play and play therapy, animal-assisted play therapy, work with street children and play in therapeutic communities around the world. Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy demonstrates the centrality of play in human development, reminds us of the creative power of play and offers new and innovative applications of research and practical technique. It will be of great interest to academics and students of play, play therapy, child development, education and the therapeutic arts. It will also be a key text for play and creative arts therapists, both in practice and in training, play practitioners, social workers, teachers and anyone working with children.

Child abuse cases and problems created by breakdowns in family relationships have highlighted the need for sound techniques for communicating with children. As a result, there is renewed interest in the therapeutic use of play to help prevent or repair emotional damage in both children and their families. The Handbook of Play Therapy is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of play therapy. It provides a practical guide to the basic skills necessary to begin tapping the healing potential of play and gives many examples of good practice.

This comprehensive and highly useful guide offers students and practicing clinicians who work with infant and preschool populations a much-needed resource for developing and honing their professional skills and clinical experiences. The book contains vital information about general training issues and highlights the skills that are needed to be considered a competent professional. Written by top experts in the field from a wide range of disciplines, the authors address basic areas of training and practice with very young children, including observation, assessment, diagnosis, dyadic therapy, and reflective supervision, in addition to unique areas of clinical work such as reunification and adoption evaluations. The book also offers examples of innovative models of training and practice for the delivery of services in nontraditional settings such as homes, day care centers, and preschools, and special strategies for delivering clinical services and providing supervision in rural and remote settings, including the use of technology.

In print for more than sixteen years, The Playgroup Handbook has helped thousands of parents organize and run playgroups for their preschool children. This thoroughly revised and updated edition is even more useful to any parent considering playgroups as a child care option. Playgroups give you a direct role in planning your child's activities as you meet and work with other parents. And children enjoy the personal attention and the friendships they build as they play and learn in a playgroup. The Playgroup Handbook helps you to form a playgroup that's right for you and your preschooler. It includes: Step-by-step guidelines for organizing a group: planning sessions, materials, safety, scheduling, what to expect from the children, and more Dozens of seasonal and non-seasonal activities--art, cooking, games, music, exercise, science, trips, woodworking, storytelling--to perform with inexpensive materials and a minimum of preparation An appendix on how to start a playgroup for profit, with a list of organizations to contact for more information on family day care.