It's not JUST Play

Prerequisite: Any course which meets the CSPK (Spoken Communication) core requirement This course expands beyond the developmental notion that "play is children's work" to examine children's play as a deeply situated sociocultural practice. Students will explore cross-cultural perspectives, historical foundations, and contemporary issues through play theory and will describe different research methods used to evaluate play. Beginning with evidence of play across animal species, the course traces how human play supports agency, identity formation, and spiritual development by cultivating joy, wonder, and authentic self-expression. Students will engage in critical analyses of play environments, evaluate popular toys and media, and observe play in real-world contexts to understand factors that influence playful learning and lived experience. They will identify what influences how children play and social beliefs about the meaning, benefits, and significance of play.  Offered fall semester