"The editors take readers through a breathtaking landscape of perspectives on the foundations of playwork. ... This book invites you to reflect (see Palmer, p51). But above all, it is one that inspires action."
Children and Society"Foundations of Playwork is a must read for anyone with an interest in playwork or children's services. It shows the breadth, depth and value of our work with and on behalf of children."
Mike Greenaway, Director of Play Wales Play impacts on all aspects of human behaviour and development, including the social, physical, cognitive, creative, emotional and spiritual worlds. The profession of playwork endeavours to provide enriched play environments with a view to enabling children achieve their full potential.This book provides a holistic overview of contemporary play and playwork. Straightforward and accessible, it covers topics such as playwork identity; play environments; the role of the playworker; values and ethics; play and playwork theory; and at the heart of the book, a special chapter located at the cutting-edge of 21st century play theory.The authors position play and playwork within the broader social context of the management and development of play settings, work within and between different sectors of the children's workforce, and the socio-legal framework of children's rights, and legislation. The book has international interest, considering playwork in the UK, US and Romania. It looks at diverse settings such as prisons, hospitals, parks, adventure playgrounds and play centres, schools, youth settings and nurseries.Contributions from many of the leading names in playwork offer the most current theory and practice in the field. They present approaches to playwork using a range of techniques such as case studies and critiques, applied and emergent theorizing, story-telling and reflection. This encourages the reader to gain a breadth of perspective and develop their own contribution to the playwork tradition.Foundations of Playwork is a vital resource for playwork students, practitioners, members of the children's workforce, carers and parents.
Part 1: Playwork theory and playwork practice in the UK
1 The fundamentals of playwork
2. Where children play: the place of staffed provision
3. Playwork a profession: distinct or extinct
4. The state of play in England
5. Playwork in Scotland
6. Play in Wales
7. Play provision in Northern Ireland
8. Playwork education, training and qualifications: looking to the future
9. Playwork and the theory of loose parts
10. Work based learning and reflective practice
Part 2: The play environment
11. Play and the play stage
12. If you go down to the woods today: why nature and adventure matter to children and young people
13. Playwork and the environment
14. The concept of risk in play and playwork
15. Quality in play: underpinning thoughts
Part 3: The playing child and the practising playworker
16. Playing: the space between
17. Modelling playwork: BRAWGS continuum, dialogue and collaborative reflection
18. The edge of recalcitrance: playwork in the zone of complexity
19. Two weeks of adventure play: moving furniture
20. After school childcare in adventure playgrounds
21. Play in hospitals
22. Playwork in prisons
23. Thinking about creating a play environment
Part 4. Playwork Values, Ethics & Professional Practice
24. The playwork principles
25. The playwork principles: a critique
26. Some reflections on the history of playwork in the adventure playground tradition
27. 'The place we are meant to be': play, playwork and the natural rhythms of communities
Part 5. Special Feature
28. Beyond ambiguity
Part 6. Play Links, Relating and Communicating
29. Mother and baby: the first playground
30. Playing and relating: the contribution of Winnicott
31. Exploring rhythm in playwork
32. Community based projects
Part 7. Working with Professional Diversity
33. Common core number 7: the missing link?
34. Guerilla playwork
35. Playwork in the early years: working in a parallel profession
36. Play, learning and education: common core of skills and knowledge for the children's workforce
37. At sixes and sevens: the transition of play to secondary schools
38. Play and youth work: a qualitative case study of integrated practice
39. The children's workforce: the early years and playwork
40. Summer camp in Romania: playwork with volunteers
Part 8. Contributing to the Management and Development of Play Settings
41. Playing the policy game: promoting effective play strategies with government, and why should we bother?
42. Managing children's play provision
43. Voluntary community play provision: a case study
44. Somerford Grove Community Project and Adventure Playground
45. Tell me an old old story: ICT and the play setting
Part 9. Legislation and Rights
46. The history of child protection, present procedures and practices
47. Health & safety: a playwork perspective
48. Children's rights and play
49. Being an anti-racist
50. ... and inclusion
51. Gender and play: the development of gendered identities and their expression in play
52. The enigma of the missing female perspective in playwork theory
Part 10. Research and Methods
53. Researching with children
54. Story telling as a tool for promoting playwork
55. An exploratory study into practice and attitude towards child-led play
56. Children without play: a research projectAppendices
A1. Brief annotated bibliography
A2. The playwork principles
Play Wales
