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The Resource Children at play : an American history, Howard P. Chudacoff

Children at play : an American history, Howard P. Chudacoff

Creator
Summary
If you believe the experts, "child's play" is serious business. But what do we know about how children actually play, especially American children of the last two centuries? In this book, Howard Chudacoff presents a history of children's play in the United States and ponders what it tells us about ourselves. Through expert investigation in primary sources-including dozens of children's diaries, hundreds of autobiographical recollections of adults, and a wealth of child-rearing manuals--along with wide-ranging reading of the work of educators, journalists, market researchers, and scholars--Chudacoff digs into the "underground" of play. He contrasts the activities that genuinely occupied children's time with what adults thought children should be doing. Filled with intriguing stories and revelatory insights, Children at Play provides a chronological history of play in the U.S. from the point of view of children themselves. Focusing on youngsters between the ages of about six and twelve, this is history "from the bottom up." It highlights the transformations of play that have occurred over the last 200 years, paying attention not only to the activities of the cultural elite but to those of working-class men and women, to slaves, and to Native Americans. In addition, the author considers the findings, observations, and theories of numerous social scientists along with those of fellow historians. Chudacoff concludes that children's ability to play independently has attenuated over time and that in our modern era this diminution has frequently had unfortunate consequences. By examining the activities of young people whom marketers today call "tweens," he provides fresh historical depth to current discussions about topics like childhood obesity, delinquency, learning disability, and the many ways that children spend their time when adults aren't looking. -- From publisher description
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xvi, 269 pages
Contents
  • Conclusion
  • Introduction
  • Childhood and play in early America, 1600-1800
  • The attempt to domesticate childhood and play, 1800-1850
  • The stuff of childhood, 1850-1900
  • The invasion of children's play culture, 1900-1950
  • The golden age of unstructured play, 1900-1950
  • The commercialization and co-optation of children's play, 1950 to the present
  • Children's play goes underground, 1950 to the present
Isbn
9780814716656
Link
Instance
Label
Children at play : an American history
Title
Children at play
Title remainder
an American history
Statement of responsibility
Howard P. Chudacoff
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
If you believe the experts, "child's play" is serious business. But what do we know about how children actually play, especially American children of the last two centuries? In this book, Howard Chudacoff presents a history of children's play in the United States and ponders what it tells us about ourselves. Through expert investigation in primary sources-including dozens of children's diaries, hundreds of autobiographical recollections of adults, and a wealth of child-rearing manuals--along with wide-ranging reading of the work of educators, journalists, market researchers, and scholars--Chudacoff digs into the "underground" of play. He contrasts the activities that genuinely occupied children's time with what adults thought children should be doing. Filled with intriguing stories and revelatory insights, Children at Play provides a chronological history of play in the U.S. from the point of view of children themselves. Focusing on youngsters between the ages of about six and twelve, this is history "from the bottom up." It highlights the transformations of play that have occurred over the last 200 years, paying attention not only to the activities of the cultural elite but to those of working-class men and women, to slaves, and to Native Americans. In addition, the author considers the findings, observations, and theories of numerous social scientists along with those of fellow historians. Chudacoff concludes that children's ability to play independently has attenuated over time and that in our modern era this diminution has frequently had unfortunate consequences. By examining the activities of young people whom marketers today call "tweens," he provides fresh historical depth to current discussions about topics like childhood obesity, delinquency, learning disability, and the many ways that children spend their time when adults aren't looking. -- From publisher description
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Chudacoff, Howard P
Dewey number
305.2310973
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
HQ792.U5
LC item number
C46 2007
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Children
  • Play
  • Children
  • Children
  • Children
  • Play
  • United States
  • Kinderspiel
  • USA
  • Kinderspiel
  • USA
Label
Children at play : an American history, Howard P. Chudacoff
Link
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-261) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • Conclusion
  • Introduction
  • Childhood and play in early America, 1600-1800
  • The attempt to domesticate childhood and play, 1800-1850
  • The stuff of childhood, 1850-1900
  • The invasion of children's play culture, 1900-1950
  • The golden age of unstructured play, 1900-1950
  • The commercialization and co-optation of children's play, 1950 to the present
  • Children's play goes underground, 1950 to the present
Control code
ocm85766038
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xvi, 269 pages
Isbn
9780814716656
Lccn
2007007865
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
Specific material designation
regular print
System control number
  • (Sirsi) o85766038
  • (OCoLC)85766038
Label
Children at play : an American history, Howard P. Chudacoff
Link
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-261) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
  • Conclusion
  • Introduction
  • Childhood and play in early America, 1600-1800
  • The attempt to domesticate childhood and play, 1800-1850
  • The stuff of childhood, 1850-1900
  • The invasion of children's play culture, 1900-1950
  • The golden age of unstructured play, 1900-1950
  • The commercialization and co-optation of children's play, 1950 to the present
  • Children's play goes underground, 1950 to the present
Control code
ocm85766038
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xvi, 269 pages
Isbn
9780814716656
Lccn
2007007865
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
Specific material designation
regular print
System control number
  • (Sirsi) o85766038
  • (OCoLC)85766038

Subject

Genre

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