Urban playground: how child-friendly planning and design can save cities

Newstead and colleagues (2015), however, contemporary playwork literature tends to focus more on what play is and the importance of play rather than on ‘the nature and purpose of playwork and the importance of playwork on its own terms’. This book, too, devotes far more pages to the importance of play and theories of play from other disciplines than to the nature of playwork practice derived from playwork theory and empirical evidence originated by actual playworkers. Chapter 8, fortunately, offers potential areas for research into the practice of playwork in order to strengthen the professional knowledge base within the playwork field. Reflective Playwork is a wonderful resource for anyone who works with children in play-based settings (or should be incorporating play), especially those not formally trained in playwork. The concepts are readily accessible and applicable. Furthermore, playwork instructors can mine the book for content and the reflective gems seeded by the authors to initiate discussions that focus directly on playwork practice.