War, Conflict and Play

by Tina Hyder

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004