Children at Play

Department of Education and Social Justice, School of Education

College of Social Sciences

Details

Code 19286

Level of study Third/Final year

Credit value 20

Semester Full Term

Module description

This module is concerned with the social and cultural history of play in 20th century Britain. It examines changing theories, sites and materials of play and explores and evaluates their importance in the lives of children. Adopting new methodologies and exploring sources that historians have traditionally ignored, it will raise questions about the function and design of play; trace a developing material culture of play and explore its consequences, and connect past and present debates on play. Indicative content:

  • Researching Children at Play

  • Theories of Play

  • Government interventions in Play

  • Play spaces

  • Gender and Play

  • The Creative Child

  • Children at risk

  • The Material culture of Play

  • Representations of Play