Title
The People in the Playground,Used
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For nearly forty years Iona Opie worked with her husband, Peter, on a notable series of books on the traditional lore of childhood, among them Childrens Games in Street and Playground, The Singing Game, and The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren. As part of her fieldwork, she visited a local school playground every week, where she would write down events exactly as they happened, and conversations exactly as they were spoken. The result of these many years of observation, The People in the Playground is a startlingly honest portrait of children at play, at once charming and hilarious, alarming and poignant, and full of infectious vitality.Here we meet the children of the Junior School playground in Lisstheir favorite games, their silliest jokes, their engaging personalities. Opie provides much insight into childrens play and human behavior: why crazes begin and stop so suddenly; the reasons for popularity and unpopularity; the ways in which new lore arrives on the playground; the unconcerned killing in the perennial game of "War"; or the tender commiseration for a friend who has stubbed his toe. She follows individual children week by week: the bully and his victim; the intellectual who would rather read Alices Adventures in Wonderland than join in the games himself; the girl whose tragic home life can be forgotten as she plays a ring game; or the boy who is obsessed with gorillas. A group of boys offer Opie their version of tag ("Theres someone got hayfever, right? He catches another one and they get hayfever. And they get tagged by someone whos free and theyre all right.") A young girl asks why Opie is writing everything down, and then presents her own rendition of "Popeye the Sailors Man" for the record. And on a rainy day unsuitable for their regular games, a vivacious child offers her very best jokes:"Im the one who tells you jokesta ra! Heres another one. Whats the most unfortunate letter in the alphabet? Will you write it down, please. I like you writing them down," she says to Opie and continues, "The letter Ubecause whenever theres trouble you always find U in the middle of it."No one has previously attempted to describe and record life in a playground while it is actually happening. In these pages are rich and startling portraits of children at play: their art of storytelling, the friendships and enmities, the excited interest in sex, the diversity of characters, and above all, the hilarity which pervades the playground, creating entertainment out of trivialities.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is 'The People in the Playground' about? A: 'The People in the Playground' is a detailed observational study by Iona Opie that captures the authentic experiences of children at play in a school playground. It provides insights into their games, conversations, and social dynamics, creating a vivid portrait of childhood.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'The People in the Playground' is Iona Opie, who is known for her work on children's folklore and games, often in collaboration with her husband, Peter Opie.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: 'The People in the Playground' was published on April 29, 1993.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: The book contains 250 pages.
- Q: What is the binding type of this book? A: 'The People in the Playground' is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: What age group is this book suitable for? A: While 'The People in the Playground' is primarily aimed at adults interested in child development and folklore, it can also be engaging for older children and teens curious about childhood games and social interactions.
- Q: Is this book a first edition? A: Yes, 'The People in the Playground' is a first edition.
- Q: What themes are explored in the book? A: The book explores themes of childhood play, social dynamics, the formation of friendships and rivalries, and the natural behaviors of children in a playground setting.
- Q: Can this book be used as a resource for educators? A: Yes, educators can use 'The People in the Playground' as a resource to understand children's play behavior and social interactions, which can inform teaching methods and classroom management.
- Q: What makes this book unique compared to other books on childhood? A: 'The People in the Playground' is unique because it is an observational study documenting children's play in real-time, capturing genuine conversations and behaviors that have not been extensively recorded before.