Table Of ContentA History of Children’s Play
and Play Environments
Toward a Contemporary Child-Saving Movement
Joe L. Frost
A History of Children’s Play
and Play Environments
Children’s play has historically been free, spontaneous, intertwined with work,
and set in the playgrounds of the wilderness, fields, streams, and barnyards.
Children in cities enjoyed similar forms of play but their playgrounds were the
vacant lands, parks, and surrounding countryside or seashore. Today, children
have become increasingly inactive, abandoning traditional outdoor play for
sedentary, indoor cyber play, and diets of junk food. The consequences of play
deprivation, the elimination and diminution of recess, and the abandonment of
outdoor play are fundamental issues in a growing crisis that threatens the
health, learning, and development of children.
This valuable book traces the history of childrens play and play environments
from their roots in ancient Greece and Rome to the present time in the high
stakes testing environment. Distinguished scholar Dr. Joe Frost explores the
evolving nature of childrens play in both natural and built play environments,
chronicles its benefits, and identifies impediments to play and playgrounds.
Through this exploration, the author shows how this history informs where we
are today and why we need to re-establish play as a priority. Ultimately, the author
proposes active solutions to play deprivation—a much needed child-saving
movement to preserve childrens free, spontaneous outdoor play, recess, and natural
and built play environments. This book is a must-read for scholars, researchers,
and students in the fields of early childhood education and child development.
Joe L. Frost is the Parker Centennial Professor Emeritus, University of Texas.
1
*
A History of Children’s Play
and Play Environments
Toward a Contemporary Child-Saving
Movement
Joe L. Frost
*
Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
NEW YORK AND LONDON
First published 2010
by Routledge by Routledge
270 Madison Ave, 2 Park Square,
New York, NY 10016 Milton Park, Abingdon,
Simultaneously published in the U.K. Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2010 Taylor and Francis
Typeset in Minion Pro by Keyword Group Ltd.
Printed and bound in the United States of America on acid-free paper by Walsworth Publishing
Company, Marceline, MO
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by
any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopy¬
ing and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are
used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Frost, Joe L.
A history of children’s play and play environments : toward a contemporary child-saving movement/
Joe L. Frost,
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-415-80619-0 (hb : alk. paper) - ISBN 978-0-415-80620-6 (pb : allc. paper) -
ISBN 978-0-203-86865-2 (ebook) 1. Play. 2. Early childhood education. 3. Child development-
United States. I. Title.
LB1139.35.P55F765 2009
306.4'81-dc22 2009014942
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 10: 0-415-80619-4 (hbk)
ISBN. 10: 0-415-80620-8 (pbk)
ISBN 10: 0-203-86865-X (ebk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-415-80619-0 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-415-80620-6 (pbk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-203-86865-2 (ebk)
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my family.
To my wonderful wife, Betty, who patiently accepts my
absence and freely gives her wise counsel.
To Nita and Tom, Terry and Bill, and Hailey and
Blake, who enrich our lives and the lives of their students,
friends, and colleagues.
v
Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xiii
Foreword by Stuart L. Brown, M.D. xv
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xix
Introduction 1
1 Early Historical Views on Children’s Play 9
Childrens Play in Ancient Greece and Rome 9
The Play of Medieval Children 13
Irrational Play, Child Abuse, and Accidents in Medieval Times 17
Reformation and Renaissance Philosophers/Educators on Play 19
Pre-modern Philosophers on Play 22
Friedrich Froebel: The Architect of the Kindergarten
or “Garden for Children” 26
Linking the Contributions of Early Scholars 31
2 Play and Play Environments in Early America 34
Play and Play Environments of Native American
and Early Settlers’ Children 35
The Changing Picture of Early Colonists’ Play 38
Girls at Play in Nineteenth Century New England 39
Boys at Play in Nineteenth Century New England 42
Playing in the Country: Hunting, Fishing, War, and Recess 44
The Western Frontier: Work, Play, Muddy
Roads, and Wilderness 47
The Play of Slave Children: “Play Is Fun, Work Is Hard” 54
Culture, Circumstance, and Play 60
3 The Early Child-Saving Movement: Shame of the Cities 62
Victims of a Stolen Childhood 63
Irrational Play: Begging, Picking Pockets, and
Outwitting the Police 66
Settlement Houses and Playgrounds for the Poor 69
Orphan Trains, Farms, Coal Mines, and Factories 73
Enduring Elements of the Child-Saving Movement 75
Setting the Stage for a Twenty-First Century
Child-Saving Movement 82
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viii • Contents
4 The Evolution of the Play and Playground Movement 84
Early New York: “City Where Crime Is Play” 85
The Many Faces of the Play and Playground Movement 89
Stages of Play Environment Development 98
The New Psychology and the Institutionalization of
Play and Playgrounds 100
The Playground Association of America (PAA) 103
The Normal Course in Play 105
Successes and Limitations of the Play and
Playground Movement 108
5 Play and the Child Study Movement: Nursery
Schools, Kindergartens, and the Developmental
Approach to Play 111
Play and Child Development in Kindergartens 112
The Child Study Movement and the New Psychology 117
Applying the New Psychology to Education 119
Play and the “Whole Child” 122
Child Development Becomes a Scientific Discipline 126
The Emergence of Professional Organizations Advocating Play 132
Decades of Promise and Gathering Storms 136
6 Play during Hard Times: The Great Depression 138
Bursting the Economic Bubble and the Dreams of Americans 139
Pleasant and Not-So-Pleasant Memories 143
Stories from Children of the Depression 152
Double Trouble: The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl 157
Play and Play Environments of City Children during
the Depression 163
The Awakening 170
7 Natural, Built, and Adventure Play Environments:
Back to Nature 173
Natural Play Environments: Wilderness, Vacant
Lots, Habitats, and Gardens 174
Manufactured Apparatus Playgrounds: Steel and Stone 177
The Novelty Era: Dennis the Menace 180
Adventure Playgrounds: Tools, Pets, Junk, Loose Parts,
and Gardens 183
The Modern Era: Standardized Playgrounds 190
The Postmodern Era of Play Environments: Back to Nature 193
8 The Value of Play and the Consequences of Play Deprivation 198
The Rush to Distinction and Mediocrity 199
Developmental and Therapeutic Values of Play 202
Play, Brain, and Play Deprivation 204
Obesity, Illness, and Dying Young 209
