Children at play, preparation for life

There is nothing that human beings know, think, hope and fear that has not been attempted, experienced, practiced or at least anticipated in children's games. Play is, therefore, more vital for a child's future than many parents realize. Children should be allowed free scope in their imaginations, for they are learning through play and the spontaneous creations of their own magical worlds. The more they can be absorbed in their play, the more fully and effectively they later take their place in the world of adults. Rather than follow a strictly chronological development of play, the author emphasizes the different qualities of play that may extend through more than one phase of childhood. She also reminds us that the human being, though bound by laws of space and time tied to the earth, stems from eternity and belongs in the cosmos; the child's inmost being is directly related to the all-embracing world of spirit. Dozens of real children play through the pages of this book, exemplifying its conclusions and making it a delight to read. Children at Play offers many practical suggestions for the urban family and gives a refreshing and timely warning to a technological society concerned about its children.