A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play Paperback – May 27, 2005

Have this book in a hard copy, and have read it when first came out, but was traveling this summer, and wanted to read it again, but did not want to carry too many books. The Kindle version makes my summer reading manageable, and fun again.Vivian Paley has made looking at children through play and imagination as a form of art. In the phrase, "Stop the world, I want to get off" applies here. Children have mastered stopping the world and getting off to learn through the creative art of play. When do we lose this art form?

The book is written by Vivian Gussin Paley as she chronicles her a 37 years as a nursery school and kindergarten teacher and her observations of dramatic play in the classroom.This book gives a strong arguement for less table work and more play for learners of all ages, and the methods that Ms. Paley describes in her book prove the value of dramatic play in the classroom, at any grade level.I chose this book based on the title and my interest in using "fantasy play" and drama to teach social lessons in my own classroom. The themes of the book are seemingly progressive compared to the current academic expectations and preparations for children in the classroom. Yet, Vivian Paley contends that our schools have actually departed from the play-based nursery school and kindergartens of the past. Throughout the book, she criticizes the disappearance of dramatic play from American schools. She feels that the absence of play has become a major obstacle in children's path to learning and asks that storytelling and play be brought back to the classroom.Dramatic play in the classroom setting is the child's "work." As children explore character, setting and intentions, like a professional actor does, they learn more and understand more about their lives. Dramatic play teaches socialization and life lessons that children have trouble grasping otherwise. Through their difficult work, they grow as human beings.

Paley gives great insight and thought to children's play: How it helps children problem solve, try out ideas and tackle emotions and changes in life. We need to pay attention to play and give kids time to do it without direction from adults!

I got this book for an Early Education Class at college. It was a supplemental to the main text. We spent a little time on the book and it was interesting. I bought the follow-on from this class called Deep Play.

As a behavior therapist, I found this to be a useful resource

Vivian Gussen Paley is one of the best advocates for children baing allowed to learn through play. She reminds us of how we used to learn, how we used fantasy play to calm our anxieties, and also the need for us to stop and really listen to what children are talking about. This book is a must have for parents, and teachers of children aged 0ne to eight, it offers an insight to the value of children learning to learn. Fantasy play encompasses every aspect of the curricullum and the value that should be placed in this type of play.

Very simple...anyone who is in a public elementary school will read this and pine for the good old days. Definitely a confirmation about what SHOULD be happening in a kindergarten classroom. Feel like sending this to every yo-yo creating educational policy just as a reminder of how little we have to interfere with our students' creativity.

A clear description with specific examples of the importance of play in early childhood education.