Value of Games

This work brings together a collection of games that have been a part of childhood through the ages, games that continue to be played in various forms around the world. Many anthologies of folktales, music, and other forms of art have been collected for readers, but there are not many works on the subject of traditional childhood games and their role in the important “work” of childhood, which is in fact play. This book helps to meet a growing interest among educators and parents to encourage natural play and creativity in a world that is increasingly digital. Directions, descriptions, illustrations, of traditional childhood games, supported by educational theory are included. The material covered will not only help parents and educators to support children in play, but will also provide an anthology for consultation by those who see the need to preserve traditional play long associated with childhood.

Childhood play is an integral component in the development of children. If you are motivated to incorporate the art of play into the learning environments of children, The Value of Games: Putting Play Back into Practice for Children is the text for you. Let's play! Tag you're it!--Teresa H. Cowan, NC DKG President, Retired Educator, 2012 PAEMST Recipient, In an age of screen-time overload, Kaye Dotson offers the antidote to devices...GAMES! The Value of Games is a walk down memory lane and a reminder of the lost art of play. This timeless book equips educators, parents and caregivers with the simple tools they need to foster imagination, reinforce values, instill leadership skills and most importantly allow children to play and to have fun.--Laura Beacher Long, MLS, NBCT, school librarian, North Carolina School Library Media Association President (2019-2020), It's time to have some fun in life and this book will get you and children you know, started down the game road fast. Covering both old familiar favorite games and newer variations, everything you need to know to have fun is provided: instructions, number of players needed and rules of the game. Let's get out of your screen face and move around some with this essential game book.--Ralph Scott, editor, NC Libraries, This is a valuable book for youth/children's group leaders, home-schooling, senior day centers, senior living homes, and parents. The volume includes a variety of games from quiet time ones (like guessing games), to group activities (jumping and running), to relays (quiet ones as well as creative ones), and even those involving songs and dancing. A must for the resource libraries in day cares, camping facilities, churches, scouting and other youth activity providers, and other educators of children. It will bring back memories of play before electronics.--Diane D. Kester, associate professor emerita; managing editor, Theory & Practice in Rural Education; production editor, Journal of Multilingual Education Research

Dr. Kaye Bennett Dotson, an Associate Professor in Library Science, focuses her scholarship and research on school librarians and the impact they may have on future generations. Dr. Dotson’s recognition of the significance of play in teaching and learning, and the need to preserve the role of play in the lives of children, inspired this work.