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Quite simply, this is the best text on play and development I have ever read. It was thought provoking while being reader-friendly at the same time. This work is very thorough and would be an excellent text for undergraduate or experienced in-service graduates.
--L. Kathryn Sharp, The University of Memphis

A comprehensive look at children′s play from birth to adolescence

Children, Play, and Development, Fourth Edition, discusses the relationship of play to the physical, social, intellectual, and emotional growth of the child. Author Fergus P. Hughes focuses on the historical, sociocultural, and ethological context of play; the role of development in play; and the wide range of theories that provide a framework for interpreting play.

The changes in this thoroughly updated Fourth Edition include new information on cultural differences in object play, a critique of experimental research on play across cultures, brain correlates of aggressive play in humans and animals, the development of the young child′s ability to distinguish between reality and make-believe, computers in the classroom, the development of emergent literacy, and the impact of attachment on children′s development.

Key Features

• Offers thorough coverage of theoretical perspectives on play, showing readers how theories contribute to a scientific understanding of play
• Provides an up-to-date review of the literature, with nearly half of the references new to this edition
• Includes a rich variety of pedagogical features that illustrate key points and help stimulate class discussions
• Presents Putting Theory Into Practice sections (two per chapter) that contain practical applications of theory and research

High-Quality Ancillaries

Instructor Resources on CD include PowerPoint presentations, a comprehensive test bank, and more. Qualified instructors can request a copy by contacting SAGE Customer Care at 1-800-818-SAGE (7243), 6am-5pm PT.

Fergus P. Hughes is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay From 1972 until 2004 he was a professor of Human Development and Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he taught courses on child development, adolescent development, life span human development, and children's play. In 2004 he assumed the role of Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which he held until his retirement in 2007. He is currently engaged in scholarly writing and teaching courses in the University's Adult Degree Program.

He is the author or co-author of eight books and numerous book chapters and scholarly articles dealing primarily with childhood cognition and children's play. The first edition of his book Children, Play, and Development appeared in 1991, and has since been translated into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. In addition, he serves as a professional consultant and regular contributor to The Child Parenting Journal, a national Australian parenting magazine.