Reviews
"Can it be true that children no longer know how to play? Chudacoff argues otherwise. Although adults have perennially felt compelled to protect children and guide their play--encouraging board games, for instance, in the 1800s--to play is, intrinsically, to not do exactly what the grown-ups say." - The Atlantic ,, ( "Chudacoff's work would serve would serve as an excellent resource for academic and lay audiences alike." )-( Journal of Social History ),(), "A fascinating and provocative survey. . . . Chudacoff builds up a scathing critique of modern parents' intrusion in children's play." - New York Times Book Review, Chudacoff's work would serve would serve as an excellent resource for academic and lay audiences alike., ”At a time when children's play seems under siege,Howard Chudacoff'shistory—the first of its kind—arrives to tell us what we are letting slip away. . . . His history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where we've been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go.” -Wilson Quarterly, "At a time when children's play seems under siege, Howard Chudacoff's historythe first of its kindarrives to tell us what we are letting slip away. . . . His history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where we've been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go." - Wilson Quarterly, "In this wonderfully polished, scholarly treatment of children and play from Colonial times to the present, Chudacoff uses excellent historical methodology and perceptive psychological insights, putting primary sources to good use, as he presents an illustrated, chronological history of children at play from ages six to 12." - Library Journal ,, "The tension between how children spend their free time and how adults want them to spend it runs through Chudacoff's book like a yellow line smack down the middle of a highway. His critique is increasingly echoed today by parents, educators and children's advocates who warn that organized activities, overscheduling and excessive amounts of homework are crowding out free time and constricting children's imaginations and social skills." -The New York Times, Can it be true that children no longer know how to play? Chudacoff argues otherwise. Although adults have perennially felt compelled to protect children and guide their play--encouraging board games, for instance, in the 1800s--to play is, intrinsically, to not do exactly what the grown-ups say., "In this wonderfully polished, scholarly treatment of children and play from Colonial times to the present, Chudacoff uses excellent historical methodology and perceptive psychological insights, putting primary sources to good use, as he presents an illustrated, chronological history of children at play from ages six to 12." - Library Journal, At a time when childrens play seems under siege, Howard Chudacoffs historythe first of its kindarrives to tell us what we are letting slip away. . . . His history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where weve been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go., ”In tracing the history of play over the American centuries, Chudacoff makes the mid-seventeenth century sound like our own time, only better.” -Slate.com, "In this wonderfully polished, scholarly treatment of children and play from Colonial times to the present, Chudacoff uses excellent historical methodology and perceptive psychological insights, putting primary sources to good use, as he presents an illustrated, chronological history of children at play from ages six to 12." -Library Journal(starred review), ”In this wonderfully polished, scholarly treatment of children and play from Colonial times to the present, Chudacoff uses excellent historical methodology and perceptive psychological insights, putting primary sources to good use, as he presents an illustrated, chronological history of children at play from ages six to 12.” -Library Journal(starred review), In this wonderfully polished, scholarly treatment of children and play from Colonial times to the present, Chudacoff uses excellent historical methodology and perceptive psychological insights, putting primary sources to good use, as he presents an illustrated, chronological history of children at play from ages six to 12., "The tension between how children spend their free time and how adults want them to spend it runs through Chudacoff's book like a yellow line smack down the middle of a highway. His critique is increasingly echoed today by parents, educators and children's advocates who warn that organized activities, overscheduling and excessive amounts of homework are crowding out free time and constricting children's imaginations and social skills." - The New York Times, ( "Once upon a time in the U.S., children played outside, with siblings and family members. But as urbanization increased, so did safety concerns. Then, there was the rise of commercial toys in the 20th century. The result - the birth of self-structured play created by children themselves. These were the findings made bye Howard Chudacoff, professor of history at Brown University, and author ofChildren at Play: An American History." )-(Millie Acebal Rousseau),( Vista Magazine ), The tension between how children spend their free time and how adults want them to spend it runs through Chudacoffs book like a yellow line smack down the middle of a highway. His critique is increasingly echoed today by parents, educators and childrens advocates who warn that organized activities, overscheduling and excessive amounts of homework are crowding out free time and constricting childrens imaginations and social skills., "A fascinating and provocative survey. . . . Chudacoff builds up a scathing critique of modern parents' intrusion in children's play." - New York Times Book Review ,, ”The tension between how children spend their free time and how adults want them to spend it runs through Chudacoff's book like a yellow line smack down the middle of a highway. His critique is increasingly echoed today by parents, educators and children's advocates who warn that organized activities, overscheduling and excessive amounts of homework are crowding out free time and constricting children's imaginations and social skills.” -The New York Times, "At a time when children's play seems under siege, Howard Chudacoff's history-the first of its kind-arrives to tell us what we are letting slip away. . . . His history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where we've been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go." - Wilson Quarterly, ”A fascinating and provocative survey. . . . Chudacoff builds up a scathing critique of modern parents’ intrusion in children's play.” -New York Times Book Review, "At a time when children's play seems under siege, Howard Chudacoff's history-the first of its kind-arrives to tell us what we are letting slip away. . . . His history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where we've been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go." - Wilson Quarterly ,, ("Can it be true that children no longer know how to play? Chudacoff argues otherwise. Although adults have perennially felt compelled to protect children and guide their play--encouraging board games, for instance, in the 1800s--to play is, intrinsically, to not do exactly what the grown-ups say." )-( The Atlantic ),(), At a time when children's play seems under siege, Howard Chudacoff's history-the first of its kind-arrives to tell us what we are letting slip away. . . . His history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where we've been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go., A fascinating and provocative survey. . . . Chudacoff builds up a scathing critique of modern parents' intrusion in childrens play., "This book is a model work of synthesis and a truly enjoyable piece of scholarship." -American Historical Review, "Once upon a time in the U.S., children played outside, with siblings and family members. But as urbanization increased, so did safety concerns. Then, there was the rise of commercial toys in the 20th century. The result - the birth of self-structured play created by children themselves. These were the findings made bye Howard Chudacoff, professor of history at Brown University, and author of Children at Play: An American History." -Millie Acebal Rousseau, Vista Magazine, "In this wonderfully polished, scholarly treatment of children and play from Colonial times to the present, Chudacoff uses excellent historical methodology and perceptive psychological insights, putting primary sources to good use, as he presents an illustrated, chronological history of children at play from ages six to 12." - Library Journal (starred review) ,, A fascinating and provocative survey. . . . Chudacoff builds up a scathing critique of modern parents' intrusion in children's play., "This book is a model work of synthesis and a truly enjoyable piece of scholarship." - American Historical Review, "A fascinating and provocative survey. . . . Chudacoff builds up a scathing critique of modern parents' intrusion in children's play." -New York Times Book Review, "Fascinating and provocative. . . . Chudacoff builds up a scathing critique of modern parents' intrusion in children's play." New York Times Book Review "[Chudacoff's] history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where we've been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go." Wilson Quarterly "The tension between how children spend their free time and how adults want them to spend it runs through Chudacoff's book like a yellow line smack down the middle of a highway." New York Times "A strong addition to the growing literature on childhood, but it's also good reading for adults seeking a fresh perspective on their own kids." American Heritage, "Can it be true that children no longer know how to play? Chudacoff argues otherwise. Although adults have perennially felt compelled to protect children and guide their play--encouraging board games, for instance, in the 1800s--to play is, intrinsically, to not do exactly what the grown-ups say." - The Atlantic, "At a time when children's play seems under siege,Howard Chudacoff'shistory—the first of its kind—arrives to tell us what we are letting slip away. . . . His history demonstrates that the topic of play is anything but trivial. And by showing us where we've been, he can help us decide where, as a culture, we want to go." -Wilson Quarterly, "In this wonderfully polished, scholarly treatment of children and play from Colonial times to the present, Chudacoff uses excellent historical methodology and perceptive psychological insights, putting primary sources to good use, as he presents an illustrated, chronological history of children at play from ages six to 12." - Library Journal (starred review)
