Fraser Brown is senior lecturer on the BA (Hons) Playwork at Leeds Metropolitan University. For ten years he was Directort of the playwork training agency Children First, and previously held advisory posts with Playboard and the NPFA. He spent three years on an adventure playground in Runcorn, and managed a range of projects for the North West Play Association. For two years he was District Leisure Officer in Middlesbrough. His publications include Working Together: a Playwork Training Pack (1989), and School Playgrounds (1990). He is currently conducting research into the effects of therapeutic playwork on a group of abandoned children in Romania.

"I would recommend it to experienced practitioners and playwork students, who seek to expand, update and challenge their current theoretical knowledge. There's plenty to stimulate the reflective playworker." - Miranda Walker

• IntroductionPart one: The roots of play and playworkThe essence of playMaking play workthe fundamental role of play in the development of social relationship skillsTowards playworkan historical introduction to children's out-of-school play organizations in London (1860-1940)Part two: Theories of playworkCompound flexibilitythe role of playwork in child developmentPlay deprivation, play bias and playwork practiceTowards a psycholudic definition of playworkPart three: Putting theory into practice - the reflective practitionerProfessional playwork practiceAdventure playgrounds in the 21st centuryEstablishing play in a local authorityIt's not what you know, but who you know!Playwork in adversityworking with abandoned childrenPlaywork as reflective practiceBibliographyIndex.

Fraser Brown is senior lecturer on the BA (Hons) Playwork at Leeds Metropolitan University. For ten years he was Directort of the playwork training agency Children First, and previously held advisory posts with Playboard and the NPFA. He spent three years on an adventure playground in Runcorn, and managed a range of projects for the North West Play Association. For two years he was District Leisure Officer in Middlesbrough. His publications include Working Together: a Playwork Training Pack (1989), and School Playgrounds (1990). He is currently conducting research into the effects of therapeutic playwork on a group of abandoned children in Romania.

"I would recommend it to experienced practitioners and playwork students, who seek to expand, update and challenge their current theoretical knowledge. There's plenty to stimulate the reflective playworker." - Miranda Walker

• IntroductionPart one: The roots of play and playworkThe essence of playMaking play workthe fundamental role of play in the development of social relationship skillsTowards playworkan historical introduction to children's out-of-school play organizations in London (1860-1940)Part two: Theories of playworkCompound flexibilitythe role of playwork in child developmentPlay deprivation, play bias and playwork practiceTowards a psycholudic definition of playworkPart three: Putting theory into practice - the reflective practitionerProfessional playwork practiceAdventure playgrounds in the 21st centuryEstablishing play in a local authorityIt's not what you know, but who you know!Playwork in adversityworking with abandoned childrenPlaywork as reflective practiceBibliographyIndex.