Play is a crucial component in the development of all children. In this
fully updated and revised edition of his classic playwork text, Bob
Hughes explores the complexities of children's play, its meaning and
purpose, and argues that adult-free play is essential for the
psychological well-being of the child.
The book is divided into fourteen chapters that together examine the
fundamentals of evolutionary play. Firstly, Hughes examines the very
earliest ideas of playwork and its impact on brain growth and
organization today. He then goes on to explore and explain the key
theoretical concepts underlying playwork. These include discussions on
free play and creating suitable play environments alongside more thorny
issues such as safety and consultation. Finally, the book offers up some
of Hughes' most recent research that reveals how his approach to play
and playwork in global society has continued to evolve throughout his
career to meet new challenges and needs. Throughout this book, Hughes
has included his fellow practitioner Mick Conway's vivid observations of
children at play to bring the facts and arguments in the text to life.
This revised edition reflects important recent advances in our
understanding of the evolutionary history of play and its impact on the
development of the brain, of the role play in the development of
resilience and of the impact of play deprivation. Evolutionary
Playwork is still the only book to combine the reality of playwork
practice with the fundamentals of evolutionary and developmental
psychology, and it is still essential reading for all playwork students,
practitioners and researchers.
