1) The document provides an agenda for a class on the historical context of play, including discussing play memories, analyzing two current play experiences, and creating a timeline of how views of play have changed over time. 2) It discusses concepts of "heart play" from literature, including total abandonment, no worry, joy, and imagination. 3) It prompts analyzing two current adult play experiences and relating them to concepts of heart play and other class readings. One experience should be something regularly engaged in and one something new. 4) It excerpts literature discussing how views of children and supervision of play have changed from more freedom in non-Western cultures to more adult guidance and protection of play in modern

1. ED 260– September 14, 2009 Play in Historical Context

3. Play Portfolios: Reflections on what we learned

4. Small Group Discussion and Poster Making

5. Large Group: Creating an Historical Timeline

6. Checking in about the Wiki (adding web-links, photos)___________ Your introductions and play memories on the wiki were fabulous!! Think for a moment….What ideas about play did you discover as you reminisced and wrote about your play memories? What did you learn from reading your colleagues’ play memories?

8. No Worry

9. Joy

10. Clear Thinking

11. Energy

12. Curiosity

13. Wonderment

14. Pride

15. Connection

16. Movement

17. Imagination

18. Relaxation

19. TherapeuticSource: Brannen, Barbara, (2002). The Gift of Play: Why Adult Women Stop Playing and How to Start Again. Writers Club Press: San Jose, CA.

20. Heart Play Portfolios Documentation and Analysis of Two Adult Heart Play Experiences Continuing to tell the story of your lifespan play by documenting two forms of play you enjoy *now* as an adult. Engaged in for this assignment (e.g., no thinking back) One play experience that you regularly engage in One play experience where you try something new or return to a form of play you love but have not done in a long time. Digital Play Experience (Facebook, video games, Wii Station, iPhone games etc.) Analysis: Briefly describe each experience Photograph or video clip and if relevant, one web-link Relate to construct of Heart Play and other appropriate literature we read and/or discuss in class

21. Chudacoff: From the intro: “In many non-Western cultures, parents have considered children competent at an earlier age than Western children, permitting play to take place without strict supervision or organization; “free” play is considered and tolerated as “natural.” The play of American youngsters, growing up in a technology-dominated, competitive, future-oriented culture, has required both adult guidance and adult protection lest children’s, and society’s, healthy development be jeopardized. This nexus between generations, and the resulting contest over the site, materials, participants, and autonomy of children’s play, has resulted in both benefits and costs” (p. 18)

22. Creating an Historical Timeline of Play Constructs we can use to focus our collective analysis: Views of Children Views of Play Play Environments Play Materials Playmates Control versus Freedom in Play (include risk-taking) Other significant themes for this time period related to play?

23. Chapter 6: The Commercialization and Co-Optation of Children’s Play(1950-Present) Rise of mass-marketing to children Mickey-mouse Club and Barbies introduced Birthrates up and then down; longer life-spans Concerns increase for “safeguarding children from all hazards” Themes: Domestication of play, Adults “co-opting” children’s play “As the values and goals of success have been switched from acquisition of material things to educational and personal achievement, middle class parents have become less and less patient with the “wastefulness of play.” Upwardly mobile parents wanted their pre-adolescent kids to be better than average in all things, so they tried to provide them with professionally run activities that would enrich their minds, tone their bodies, inculcate physical skills, and enhance their self-esteem.” (p. 165)

25. Do you think differently about contemporary play as a result of this reading? Yes/no? Why?