War, Conflict and Play

Children and development: the importance of play
Being a refugee: the loss of play
The impact of war, conflict and violence on young children: the consequences for play
What works: first principles to promote play
Lessons from practice: the role of play
War and violence in the wider world: issues affecting play
Conclusion: play as a child's right

"This informative and compassionate book challenges the negative picture of refugees and asylum-seekers portrayed in the media. Tina Hyder shows that despite the trauma that young children go through, only a small percentage need specialist help. For the majority their healing can be promoted through play, particularly in culturally appropriate and anti-discriminatory settings. I strongly recommend this book to all practitioners working in today's early years settings."

Babette Brown, author of Combatting Discrimination: Persona Dolls in Action and Unlearning Discrimination in the Early Years

This book is about the experiences of young refugee children and asylum seekers and their families in the UK. It describes how war and conflict can interrupt the development of young children as relationships and communities are destroyed and looks at how play can help to restore these children's lost childhoods.

Tina Hyder highlights the importance of early years and preschool provision as a healing and restorative experience for young children and their families. She sets work with refugee children into the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and helps readers to see beyond alarmist headlines and stereotypes presented in newspapers. The book provides:

• Useful summaries of research on child development, theories of play, and the impact of conflict on young children
• Practical examples of play-based activities to help young children
• A framework for early years practitioners to support refugee children and their families.

War, Conflict and Play is essential reading for practitioners in early childhood settings and students on early childhood courses.