Play

Articles and information about why play is crucial to children’s development, and the state of play in childhood now. Also, beyond the obvious joy of play, what are a few of the mental advantages of more specific kinds of play?

Below are links to various newspaper, journal, and organization articles. After that table, there are a series of images that speak to some element of play, even lightheartedly. :-)

Play and cognitive development	“10 Reasons Play Makes Babies Smarter” From social development to impulse control to concentration to physical development, this article very briefly touches these and other bases.
Play and creativity	Newsweek reports on a decrease in creativity over generations, measured by the Torrance’s test. Pull quote, “A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 “leadership competency” of the future.”
Play . . . the growing movement	NYT article on the effort to restore children’s play, in particular unstructured play.
Play and self control	The mediation of conflict and learning of self-control are highlighted in this article.
Play and preschool	Play spawns creativity and exploration. Curiosity . . . remaining open to new information and possibilities is key, and play fosters that.
Case for Play (by Chronicle of Higher Education)	A balanced article that discusses the social and cognitive benefits of play, as well as offering useful references and sources to dive deeper. Discusses dissenting ideas around the importance of play as well.
Alliance for Childhood	Their summary files are free, and include topics such as play in kindergarten, children in nature, value of play, and technology and children.
Playworks is a nonprofit organization that takes play into schools	From this link, you can access “Studies on play,” “Play in the press,” “Stories of play,” and more.
Play and self-discipline	University of California at Berkeley operates the “Greater Good Center,” offering numerous resources, including this podcast.
American Psychological Association article	Childhood Revisited: the changing nature of childhood play. Child-created and centered play was common, and now is uncommon. Structured play and lessons are the norm.
Want to get your kids into college? Let them play.	CNN article that speaks to social skills built in play, learning enhancement via play, self-regulation, and problem solving. Play enhances emotional intelligence.
Old fashioned play builds serious skills	A brief history of play, commercialization of play, and the thing-centered play movement, now very alive today. Also speaks to self-regulation and imaginative play.


	At Camp Augusta, children have the opportunity to create their own play together in Cabin Activities and Rest Hour, and with Playstation within a presented general frame. During Evening Programs, campers decide how they want to engage in a created world, of which they are central characters to the world’s development and outcome.

		The below “stickers” are from MAKE magazine, offering a tongue-in-cheek look at the state of play in America.


	[Augusta Difference] [Camper Interest] [Dates and Tuition] [Activities]