Child Play: Its Importance in Human Development

Peter Slade's comprehensive and accessible book explores the theories and practice of play. The author suggests that media influences have a profound effect on behaviour, and by stressing the importance of understanding play as a chart of individual development, and drawing links between home, school, clinics and therapy, he offers the prospect of an understanding of delinquency and difficulty.

It is a book that often challenges existing thinking and examines a range of issues surrounding play. Contexts are various and play in and out of school, dramatherapy, adult training, personality development, and dance are all considered. The effects and implications of recent legislation and developments are also discussed, and the text includes practical examples and exercises that complete a comprehensive and important work.