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Play for Health Across the Lifespan uses case studies to explore the impact of play and creativity on health and wellbeing throughout the lifecycle. While play at the start of life influences future development, the authors show play also has a role in improving prospects for health and wellbeing in adulthood and later life.
List of contents
Introduction. 1.Play for Health: A Journey for Life 2.Tell Me a Story 3.Infancy and the Early Years 4.The School Years 5.Adolescence 6.Early Adulthood 7.The Middle Years 8.Elderhood 9.The End of Life
About the author
Julia Whitaker has a background in social work, family therapy, and healthcare play specialism and has over 30 years' practice and teaching experience in both public and private sectors. She is currently interested in exploring how play and playfulness impact on health and wellbeing throughout the life course and has a special interest in the role of play in the attachment process.
Alison Tonkin looks after the Higher Education provision at Stanmore College, teaching and managing a range of courses linked to working with children and young people and healthcare for adults. With a research background in health promotion among preschool children and having worked as a diagnostic and therapeutic radiographer, the link between health and education is actively promoted. The importance of play and playfulness for health and wellbeing for children and adults alike is an area of particular interest.
Summary
Play for Health Across the Lifespan uses case studies to explore the impact of play and creativity on health and wellbeing throughout the lifecycle. While play at the start of life influences future development, the authors show play also has a role in improving prospects for health and wellbeing in adulthood and later life.
Additional text
'Play is a vital element for lifelong health, well‐being and learning. This whistlestop tour of its role in human development is conveyed through a highly readable combination of scholarly narrative and illuminating anecdotes. It is an outstanding achievement, with significant implications for our society and culture, which should be read by all practitioners and policymakers in health, education and social services.'
Sue Palmer, author of Toxic
Childhood and Chair of Upstart Scotland.
