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Socialist Review Index (1993–1996) | Socialist Review 182 Contents


M. Chay

TalkBack

Child’s play

 

From Socialist Review, No. 182, January 1995.
Copyright © Socialist Review.
Copied with thanks from the Socialist Review Archive.
Marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.

 

I feel it necessary for us all to be knowledgeable as to why play provision is vital for children if we are to be intellectually able to build the struggle against the imminent cuts. For many councils cutting play workers is becoming an easy cost-cutting solution, as we have seen recently in the London Borough of Islington.

These notes should provide all comrades with the ammunition needed to build support amongst the working class in defence of play. I hope the information will be used during debates when we hit the streets to obtain signatures or publicise demos. We need to explain the value of play, and the need for adequate resources. If this helps to do so – and feedback is appreciated – then we will have increased our effectiveness.

Mainstream British society views play as being separate from the main business of learning. This is wrong. Yes, children desire fun when they play, but unconsciously they are learning. This can be seen from a very young age, when children first begin to learn how to talk, walk and coordinate movement. Western society has been consistent in underestimating the importance of play. As Marxists we know the only human beings who merit privilege are children. Play is learning!

Adults, in the form of play workers, are needed to provide resources to facilitate play. Play workers are aware of the need not to interfere or dictate a child’s play activities. This is something parents and schools often fail to appreciate or maintain in practice. Play workers are needed if we are to have successful playgrounds!

Play activity may take various material forms. Play may be psychological or imaginative. It may involve the use of narration or thinking aloud – this builds vocabulary and helps the child reason with its own experiences.

From the pre-school age up to adolescence play develops a child’s social skills in several ways: encouraging companionship i.e., solidarity; role playing; boundary making; working toward common objectives through agreed rules; fighting for common aims; increases discussion, debate and moral conceptions of right and wrong.

At the later stages of a child’s development through play, it is quickly realised that in the adult/child relationship (parents or teachers) there exists an inequality of power. In the play environment children are encouraged by fellow users and workers to share a common, equal distribution of power. Also, rule making aids the development of literacy and numeracy.

Like everything it influences, capitalism in Western society has largely subordinated play to the lower leagues of a child’s developmental agenda. Of course this is not the child’s choice, but the choice of those in authority. Now, play takes place in artificial arenas such as playgrounds, playrooms and playdens. Adventure playgrounds are an attempt to provide the child with a more natural play environment, with opportunities for creativity, cooperation, teamwork and risk taking.

Capitalist society has injected the competition ethic and ideology of individualism into play. Our children will play competitive games that produce winners and losers, while other cultures, such as those of the slaves in the American South or the plains Indians of North America, encouraged activities that developed within the child an understanding of the need for cooperation and collectivism.

For the past 15 years the provision and the quality of play facilities in Islington have been outstanding. The suggested cuts now being put through by the council will undermine this tradition.

The quality of play facilities for children is a major concern for Islington parents, especially since a recent survey indicates that 20 percent of all five- to ten-year-olds are home alone after school or during holidays, as current economic conditions force both parents to work. The Tories and bosses have no commitment to increase the current meagre levels of childcare provision.

This topic is one which branches could really capitalise on.


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