Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy Therap

"Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy is a delightful collection of stories, research, experiences from play practitioners across multicultural contexts. What is most fascinating about this play potpourri is the range it is able to cover from children as play experts in co-research, to use of play in classroom, work place, health space to play as core medium for healing and therapy. This innovative handbook by Sue and Clive is an ultimate encyclopedia on play that will treasured by therapists, teachers, paediatricians, parents and play campaigners across the world for many generations. " - Shelja Sen, Family Therapist

"Bringing perspectives from around the world to consider play across time and cultures and in a broad range of disciplines, artistic forms, settings and creative spaces, this handbook offers an in indispensable point of entry and a timely journey through this multifaceted field." - Dr Maggie O'Neill, NUI Galway

"I celebrate Clive Holmwood and Sue Jennings in showing how "play and the arts are intrinsically linked." The silos of professions, and of the arts themselves, too often block access to this natural interdependence of imagination advancing the whole of life-even the workplace. Children model a life-affirming creative intelligence involving all of the senses, ways of playing needed to create, heal, and be in the world in the most complete and organic ways. Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy, and its global community of authors, reinforce the vital role of play in our common humanity." - Shaun McNiff, Professor, Lesley University

"The importance of play for human development is paramount. Neurosciences showed that play is ingrained in our brain, generating the basic emotion of joy, and, at least since Froebel, we know that a large amount of what children learn, is learnt through play. Notwithstanding that, we can perceive everywhere what Roger Caillois called the 'debasement of play', the lacking of spontaneity, creativity and freedom. How can these virtues of play be recovered? This precious book offers a whole range of reflections on the matter in a multicultural perspective, and suggests many powerful ways to engage with play and restore its therapeutic potentiality." - Salvo Pitruzzella, Centro ArtiTerapie, Lecco, Italy