Psychological models of children's play have featured in textbooks for many years, but the most recent and interesting theory is that of Gordon Sturrock and Perry Else, called Psycholudics. This theory adds a refreshing and much-needed practical element to the genre, because it can be directly applied to the workplace setting.
It shows the importance of:
* Making sure children receive positive responses to their invitations to play - repeated negative responses can affect a child's self-esteem.
* Allowing children to instigate and plan activities themselves, rather than imposing adult ideas on them.
* Trying not to intervene when children are engrossed in play - except for safety reasons - keeping the play going if a child has to leave, or joining in if invited to participate.
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