A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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

A book that any parent, teacher or child care provider should have. We've only to watch children play to know that they take their "jobs" very seriously....a great foundation for tweaking our thinking that play is "just play".I highly recommend it!

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.

It was a pleasure to read this book. As a mother and a teacher, the book is inspiring and refreshing giving me deep insight to the value of children's play. We know it is important, and I wish I could convey that gently and clearly like Vivian Paley.

The importance of fantasy, nothing is so important in a child's life. To be allowed to play make believe, to imagine something is somethingelse.This is where creativity, flexibility starts which are the basis for more complex, rational thinking. The starting school age at 4 years old in the UK is killing fantasy. That is very worring for children emotional intelligence and well being in the long run. Allow children to be free, to imagine, to create. Do not start teaching reading and writing too early - most of Europe starts at 6 years old - and let kids learn at their own pace.

This book is an absolute treasure and provided an in-depth insight into children's fantasy play, something which fascinates me. I gained lots of ideas that I have already used with the children that I work with in my own nursery. I will certainly be reading more books by this inspiring author.