Child's Work

The buzzword in education today is accountability. But the federal mandate of "no child left behind" has come to mean curriculums driven by standardized test preparation and quantifiable learning results. Even for very young children, unstructured creative time in the classroom is waning as teachers and administrators focus on measurable achievement through rote learning and increasing the amount of homework. In her new book, Vivian Gussin Paley decries this rapid disappearance of creative time and makes the case for the critical role of fantasy play in the psychological, intellectual, and social development of young children. A prized and innovative educator for nearly four decades, Paley speaks from first-hand experience about the limitless growth of young children who are allowed the time for fantasy play. A Child's Work goes inside classrooms across the globe to explore the stunningly original language of these children in their role-playing and story-telling. Drawing from their own words, Paley examines the developing logic and learning that allow children to construct meaning in their worlds, meaning that carries through into their adult lives. Proof that play is the work of children, this compelling and enchanting book will inspire and instruct teachers and parents, as well as point to a fundamental misdirection in today's educational programs and strategies.