Psychopedagogy of Play

Gabriela Kelemen  © by the authors

ISBN: 978-1-940366-16-6
Published Date: September, 2014
Pages: 206
Paperback: $89
Publisher: Science Publishing Group
To purchase hard copies of this book, please email: book@sciencepublishinggroup.com
Book Description

Psychopedagogy of play brings forward a topic of constant interest: the game.

The volume Psychopedagogy of play, approaches the importance of playing in a child’s life but also throughout the entire human existence, as mentioned by the author herself: Playing is a fundamental human activity that pervades the entire life and all cultures. Playing is the main and fundamental childhood activity. It is the engine that activates and determines the development of one’s personality, gives meaning to one’s life, develops cognitive abilities, social relations and favours harmonious physical development. The game is the main way of child’ intellectual development and training during early childhood and preschool age.

The author of the book highlights how prestigious pedagogues and psychologists have approached playing. They were interested in the role games have in the child’s harmonious development, stating the fundamental role of games in shaping the child’s personality in preschool age.

The book is divided into chapters and subchapters which comprise fundamental concepts on the development of child’s personality through playing, explanatory theories on the nature and function of games, the taxonomy of games, integrating play activities in the curricular content of preschool education, games as method, means and form of unfolding didactic activities in kindergarten, games and toys, etc. More specifically, we can say that this book has the structure of a course book addressed both to students, future teachers, and to preschool teachers facing a tenure exam, first and second degree exam.

This book highlights the importance of game, the history of games, and the role they play in human development. The book is has an innovated character which complies with current tendencies of modern psychopedagogy by approaching to inter- and multidisciplinary. Besides handling game as permanently human reality, the book shows its importance in a child’s life as universal and specific activity in all stages of its evolution.

This volume captures the causality relationship between game and development, relationship that stresses out the importance of games in the development of personality from birth to school age. Emphasis is laid especially on the role of games as fundamental activity in kindergartens, on its importance in the development of all facets of a child’s personality, in socializing and school preparation. The pedagogic argumentation is convincing and offers practical and methodological suggestions according to tendencies of modern didactics.

From the book ”Psychopedagogy of play”, we find out which is the specific of childhood age, behavioural tendencies, predominant activities at this level of ontogenetic development and which are the less desirable attitudes of adults towards children.

The book addresses to students, educators (preschool teachers, primary school teachers, teachers, parents, etc.), to all those interested in the education of children.

Author Introduction

Gabriela Kelemen Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania

Table of Contents
  • The Whole Book

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  • Front Matter

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  • Chapter 1 Play-Conceptual Delimitations

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    1. 1.1 Play, the Essence of a Child's Universe
    2. 1.2 The Universal Character of Playing
    3. 1.3 The Polyvalent Character of Play
    4. 1.4 Play, Constant Human Reality
  • Chapter 2 The Role of Play in Child’s Development

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    1. 2.1 The Relationship Play-Development
    2. 2.2 Premises of Personality Development Through Play at Children
    3. 2.2.1 Factors which Influence the Development of Human Personality
    4. 2.2.2 Temperament, Education, Play
    5. 2.2.3 Abilities and Education
    6. 2.2.4 Shaping Characters
    7. 2.2.5 Defining Behaviours
  • Chapter 3 Explanatory Theories about the Nature and Functions of Play

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    1. 3.1 The Complex Determinism of Play Phenomenon
    2. 3.2 The Play Phenomenon in Current Context
  • Chapter 4 The Play Dimension of Educational Phenomenon

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    1. 4.1 The Importance of Play in Pre-schoolers Life
    2. 4.2 Play–Dominant and Defining Form of Preschool Activity
    3. 4.3 Classification of Games
    4. 4.3.1 A Possible Taxonomy of Games
    5. 4.3.2 Didactic Games
    6. 4.3.3 Entertainment Games with Rules
    7. 4.3.4 Creative Games
    8. 4.3.5 Role Play
    9. 4.4 The Children's Play Nowadays
    10. 4.4.1 The Ontogenetic Evolution of Plays
    11. 4.4.2 The Evolution of Play
    12. 4.4.3 Play and Computers
    13. 4.4.4 Games that Activate the Brain
  • Chapter 5 Play in Curricular Contents

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    1. 5.1 Forms of Play in Kindergarten and School
    2. 5.2 The Integration of Play Elements in the Contents of Preschool Curriculum
    3. 5.3 The Reggio Emilia Method in Early Education
    4. 5.3.1 Loris Malagutti's Philosophy
    5. 5.3.2 Principles of Reggio Emilia Method
  • Chapter 6 Play in Selected Activities and Stimulation Areas

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    1. 6.1 Specific Objectives of Games and Selected Activities
    2. 6.2 The Contents of Games and Selected Activities
    3. 6.3 Preparation of Games and Selected Activities
    4. 6.4 Guidance in Games and Selected Activities
  • Chapter 7 Play, Way of Conducting Joint Activities

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    1. 7.1 Play in Speaking Activities
    2. 7.2 Play in Environmental Knowledge Activities
    3. 7.3 Play in Mathematic Activities
    4. 7.4 Play in Musical Education Activities
    5. 7.5 Play in Physical Education Activities
  • Chapter 8 Play in Personal Development Activities–Complementary Activities

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    1. 8.1 Complementary Activities
    2. 8.2 Entertainment Games
    3. 8.3 Movement Games
  • Chapter 9 Using Play in Schools

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    1. 9.1 Examples of Games for Pupils
    2. 9.2 Little Birdie, Move your Nest
  • Chapter 10 Play and Toys

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    1. 10.1 The Role of Toys in the Child's Life
    2. 10.2 The Qualities of Toys
    3. 10.3 Classification of Toys
    4. 10.4 Books for Children
    5. 10.5 Games and Toys
  • Back Matter

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