Looking for the War Play and Rough & Tumble Play Resource List? It can be found at the end of this blog or you can download the most updated version of the PDF here.
When I first heard the term “war play” I was repulsed and unsure what it encompassed. Had I ever played like that as a kid? Do I today? What about rough and tumble play? This sounded like fun, but was I still doing this as an adult? How much of this kind of play did I encounter as a child? These topics often come up for parents and educators with respect to childhood play and they can be controversial. But, are these types of play worthwhile for adults? Have I been censoring or not considering some types of play and/or stories either because I was an adult, or due to cultural norms. So, early in the fall of 2018, my War Play & Rough and Tumble Play Project began. I’ve been exploring both types of play to see if they have relevance to my work and life.
What is meant by war play, and rough and tumble play? My working definitions are not yet developed. Here are some of the questions, ideas and concepts I have considered or am actively working and playing with:
- How are story and storytelling effected during and after play?
- What makes games like tag, and hide and seek war play?
- What about board games, laser tag, video games? Is Twister an example of rough and tumble play? Then there is the game of Battleship – is this really considered war play? I’ve seen Monopoly played very competitively where the word war comes to mind.
- What about play that involves superheroes, gangsters, spies, Cops and Robbers, the Civil War (see below), snow ball fights, fort building, medieval games (knights, etc.), Cowboys and Indians (see below), etc.?
- Sports?
- Is such play purposeful? Not purposeful?
- Is imitative play of value?
- Can these types of play be accessed by individuals? Pairs? Groups? Communities?
- What is violence? Peace?
- What about aggression, assertiveness and its opposites?
- Power, powerlessness and status?
- Stereotypes?
- Collaborative, team and competitive play?
- Feelings?
- Cultural norms?
- Rules?
- Adult vs children’s perspective?
- Spontaneity vs reflection?
- Conflict?
- Strength and weakness?
- Gender?
- Why are some war games more difficult than others?
- What am I/we learning?
- What exactly is war play?
- What do is meant by rough and tumble play?
- What is war?
- Is it honorable to play like this as an adult?
- How would a five or six year old play with this?
Some of the war games I played were particularly interesting. For example, I don’t recall playing Cowboys and Indians as a kid and I was a bit unsure whether or not it was appropriate to be playing this game. But playing like this allowed conversation to naturally and easily flow around conflicts that came up (ex: stereotypes, culture(s), etc.). In actuality I was playing this game with my partner over time. We could stop in any moment and ask a question, share a curiosity. This was a harder game to get into because who wants to treat another group disrespectfully, but that concern we found could be brought into the play. Some of the questions that came up:
- Was it playful or “right” to use terms such as “pow wow” or “rain dance”?
- Are guns allowed?
- Are the terms “Cowboys” and “Indians” fictional? Whether they are or not is it okay to take on the characters in play acting?
I also played Civil War – this too was not easy to play with – in fact it was the most difficult game I played this fall, with Cowboys and Indians coming in a not too distant second.
I’ve learned a great deal since beginning this project – my perspective enlarged in ways I wouldn’t have expected. At this point it appears to me that both war play and rough and tumble play are worthwhile for adults as they bring increased perspective, help build connections and relationships, and explore stories and concepts (ex: power and powerlessness) while stretching ourselves in new ways. Based on recent explorations I am now seriously considering creating a workshop around both these topics. Perhaps it is important we have a play space to take on some of these topics and these types of play?
I am continuing to explore these two topics. In the meantime I’ve compiled a list of resources for parents, educators, artists and writers and those playful leaders within who would like to explore play and gain a little perspective. You can find this list below and in PDF Format for download here.
WAR PLAY and ROUGH & TUMBLE PLAY
RESOURCE LIST
Many thanks to all who contributed to this list including members of The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) and contributors from The Strong (The Strong National Museum of Play).
BOOKS:
- Big Body Play, by Francis M. Carlson
- Boys and Girls: Superheroes in the Doll Corner by Vivian Gussin Paley
- Cambridge Handbook of Play, Hart and Tannock, Chapter 12 on “Rough Play”
- Masks of Play (TASP), by Brian Sutton-Smith and Diana Kelly-Byrne – see concluding chapter
- Play for life: play theory and play as emotional survival by Brian Sutton-Smith. Rochester, New York: The Strong National Museum of Play. This book can be purchased through The Strong here.
- Play, How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown
- Recess Battles: Playing, Fighting, and Storytelling, by Anna R. Beresin
- War Play Dilemma: What Every Parent and Teacher Needs to Know (The), Teachers College Press, by Diane E. Levin and Nancy Carlsson‐Paige
- Who’s Calling the Shots?: How to Respond Effectively to Children’s Fascination with War Play, War Toys, and Violent TV by Nancy Carlsson‐Paige and Diane E. Levin
ARTICLES
- Bang Bang Gun Play and Why Children Need It by Diane Rich.
- Devil Dogs and Dog Piles, Western Folklore by Jay Mechling and John Paul Wallis, Summer/Fall 2015, Vol. 74 Issue 3/4, p 275-308. 34 p.
- Gun Play, American Journal of Play, Jay Mechling, available on-line as a PDF here.
- Erosion of Play (The), by Patrick J. Lewis. The International Journal of Play, 2017, Vol 6, No. 1, 10 – 23.
- Function of Play in the Development of the Social Brain (The), Sergio M. Pellis, Vivien C. Pellis, and Heather C. Bell, American Journal of Play, Winter, 2010, You can find the PDF here.
- How to Facilitate Risky Play in the Classroom, Alexandra Louis. Available here.
- Rough and tumble play: A fundamental brain process. Panksepp, J. (1993). In K. MacDonald (Ed.), SUNY series, children’s play in society. Parent–child play: Descriptions and implications (pp. 147-184). Albany, NY, US: State University of New York Press.
- Rough Play one of the most challenging behaviors by Frances M. Carlson The PDF can be found here.
PLAY POLICY
- Rough Play one of the most challenging behaviors by Frances M. Carlson. — This article also speaks, in part, to policies for Big Body Play. The PDF can be found here.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
- Welsh Government Play Policy: Available here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Journal of Play: Nice resource of online articles that can be found here. Affiliated with The Strong National Museum of Play.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Use the search bar and put in “rough and tumble play.” https://www.naeyc.org
- The Association for the Study of Play (TASP). See conference and/or resources section – http://www.tasplay.org
- The Strong National Museum of Play. Check out their site and “Education and Play Resources” section and The Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play is housed there. http://www.museumofplay.org/
Enjoy the stories and have a playful day!
– Mary
I celebrate typos typos here!
Edited to add clarity, resources and an updated PDF 12/19/2018.
