The social transformation of children's play and organized activities, 1880-1990: A sociohistorical study.
Item
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Title
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The social transformation of children's play and organized activities, 1880-1990: A sociohistorical study.
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Identifier
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AAI9119682
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identifier
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9119682
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Creator
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Spano, Rina Gangemi.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Gerald Handel
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Date
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1991
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Sociology, Individual and Family Studies | Sociology, Public and Social Welfare | Sociology, Social Structure and Development | Psychology, Developmental
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Abstract
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This work traces changes and continuities in the play and organized activities of American children between 1880-1990. It analyzes those changes as a result of the convergence of shifting and popularized psychological theories of play with significant sociocultural and historical changes. The thesis argues that throughout the study period there has been a shift in the adult focus of attention from the play of lower class children for whom play was seen as a means of social control, to the play of middle class children, for whom play is an activity of personal development.;The study period is divided into three parts: 1880-1920; 1920-1945 and 1945-1990. The 1880-1920 period focuses on the free and organized play of poor and immigrant urban children. Street play is contrasted with the Playground Movement, a Progressive era effort at child-saving. The theories of G. Stanley Hall and Joseph Lee shape playground programs and organization.;The 1920 to 1945 period begins to mark the shift to adult concern with the play of middle class children. John B. Watson and Arnold Gesell provide the theoretical ideas that influence play practices. The growth of the middle class, changing family patterns, the Depression, and World War II provide the socio-historical backdrop for the period.;The last period, 1945-1990, is marked by extensive suburbanizaion, bureaucratization, technological advances, the rise and fall of child-centeredness, and changing gender roles and family structures. Theoretically, the ideas of Freud, Piaget and Erikson on the value of play dominate. The dominant play patterns are shaped by the growth of municipal recreation programs, the rise of organized sports programs for preadolescents, toys and television.;The study ends with a summary of changes and continuities in play, conclusions and recommendations for further research.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
