Play and Social Justice

Olga S. Jarrett (PhD, Georgia State University) is Professor Emerita in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Georgia State University. She is a play researcher and evaluator, former president of both TASP and IPAUSA, and recipient of the Martin Luther King Faculty Torch of Peace Award (GSU) and awards from TASP, US Play Coalition, IPAUSA, and the NAEYC Play, Policy, and Practice Interest Forum. Vera L Stenhouse (PhD, Emory University) is an inter- and multi-disciplinary educator, independent researcher, evaluator, and facilitator with a focus on the sociopolitical contexts of teaching and learning, K-12 through higher education. Stenhouse has presented and written about play and social justice and encourages playful/experiential pedagogical practices when teaching and learning. John A. Sutterby (PhD, University of Texas Austin) is Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at The University of Texas at San Antonio and a former president of The Association for the Study of Play. Dr. Sutterby’s research interests include outdoor play environments, family involvement, and working with families of English language learners. Michael M. Patte (PhD, Pennsylvania State University) is Professor of Early Childhood Education and Program Coordinator for the Child Life Specialist and Playwork Programs at Bloomsburg University. He is a visiting scholar in the Play, Education, Toys, and Language (PETaL) – Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Program University of Cordoba (Spain), Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (Portugal), and Marmara University (Turkey) – and Co-Editor of The International Journal of Play (https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rijp20/current).

Play and Social Justice: The Issues – The Nature of Play and the Nature of Social Justice – Issues, Disparities, and Inequities in Play Opportunity – Leveling the Playing Field – Teaching and Pedagogical Practices – Community and Institutional Programs and Programming – Play Research Methods and Advocacy – Appendix Resources for Play Advocates – Index – About the Authors.

“This book is a comprehensive treatment of Play and it represents a milestone in Play research, practice, and advocacy. This compilation of perspectives, insights, and critical analyses across wide-ranging contexts is an accomplishment of the highest order. It is an important read in a changing world where Play is undervalued and under threat.”

—Darrel R. Davis, Professor, Assistant Chair, Educational Psychology, Researcher on Play, Technology, and Human Development, Miami University, Ohio