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Date: Feb 23, 2010

Children's Play, Toys and Games Is the Subject of a Hofstra Academic Symposium: "Child's Play, Children's Pleasures: Interdisciplinary Explorations"

March 19 and 20, 2010

Highlights Include Community Workshops and Family Activities on March 20 and 21

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … How different forms of children’s toys and play provide important opportunities for learning is the subject of an interdisciplinary symposium at Hofstra University on March 19 and 20, 2010. Child’s Play, Children’s Pleasures: Interdisciplinary Explorations will be presented by the Hofstra Cultural Center in cooperation with the School of Education, Health and Human Services and the Hofstra University Museum. The symposium complements the Hofstra University Museum’s spring exhibition, Children's Pleasures: American Celebrations of Childhood, featuring historic and contemporary art works by American artists depicting children and a display of historic toys. The symposium is appropriate for teachers, museum professionals, children’s librarians, school administrators, counselors, child care workers and interested parents. Also in conjunction with the symposium is a series of family activities and workshops for adults and children on March 20th and 21st.

This event, directed by Hofstra Professor of Education Donna R. Barnes, serves as a forum for stimulating and disseminating research on the historical, sociological, psychological and educational study of children’s development from infancy to age 12 through play activities, dolls, toys, and games. Additionally, the symposium focuses attention on artistic and literary depictions of children at play.

Symposium presenters are coming from across the globe to participate. International scholars include Catherine Howell from the Victoria and Albert’s Museum of Childhood in London; Anya Chernaya from the Pedagogical Institute in Rostov-on-Don, Russia; and Joke Langbein-den Daas and Geerdina van der Aalsvoort from the University of Applied Studies in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The keynote address on Friday, March 19, at 1:45 p.m. features “Children’s Play, Children’s Culture: An Overview From American History,” by the Joseph G. Astman Distinguished Symposium Scholar Howard P. Chudacoff. Dr. Chudacoff is the George L. Littlefield Professor of American History and Professor of Urban Studies at Brown University and author of Children at Play: An American History.

Also on Friday at 7 p.m. there will a symposium banquet followed by “I Won’t Grow Up” A Playful Musical Review!, conceived and directed by Bob Spiotto with musical direction by John Farrell.

On Saturday, March 20, at 11 a.m. Steven Mintz, Hofstra University Presidential Scholar and author of Huck’s Raft: A History of American Childhood, will give a presentation titled Children’s Pleasures, Children’s Lives: Perspectives from American History

Symposium registration fees are $70, $50 for presenters and senior citizens, and $35 for matriculated non Hofstra students. A symposium banquet will be held on Friday, March 19, at 7 p.m. This is priced separately at $45 per person. All symposium events, with the exception of meals, are free to members of the Hofstra community upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.

Symposium Panels Include:
Friday, March 19:

• Museum-Based Experiences
• Playing for Literacy
• Gender and Play
• The Sandbox Summit: Why Pixels Need People
• Nature and Outdoor Play
• Artists Talking About Art and Play
• Toys and Amusements: Historical Perspectives
• Imagination, Games and Literacy
• Children’s Art
• Childhood Is a Time of Innocence: Controversies
• Playful Teaching, Playful Resources
• Girls and Their Dolls
• Videos on Play
• What’s On Their Minds: Play and the Brain
• Music, Laughter and Technology
• Creative Teachers, Creative Children
• Play and Learning in Kindergartens

Saturday, March 20:

• Children’s Playful Art
• Playful Museum Experiences for Kids
• Play for the Special Needs Child
• Play, Language and Violence
• Playful Possibilities
• The Right to Bear Arms: Controversies
• Playful Teaching, Playful Learning
• Children and Pleasures: Historical Perspectives
• Play is Primary

The symposium will also include opportunities to tour Hofstra University’s Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute at the Saltzman Community Services Center and the Long Island Children’s Museum.

March 20: Community Workshops and Events – Appropriate for the Entire Family

Fee for participating in these Saturday programs is $5 per adult (2 children limit per adult). Except for “The Great Caper” to register in advance for these sessions call (516) 463-5750.

•    9 to 9:55 a.m. and 10 to 10:55 a.m..: “Developmentally Appropriate Toys” at the Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute, Saltzman Community Services Center, South Campus. This demonstration is for parents and their children (ages 3 to 6), and early childhood educators. Learn how to choose and use developmentally appropriate toys for play and learning.

•    9 to 9:55 a.m. and 10 to 10:55 a.m..: “Reader’s Theater: Playing with Stories” at the Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute, Saltzman Community Services Center, South Campus. For parents and their children aged 5-10. This workshop introduces parents to books that encourage play and playful responses between parent and child.

•    11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “Active Play: Manipulating Play for Skill Development” at the Physical Fitness Center, North Campus. For parents and children aged 4-10. This session introduces children and families to ways to manipulate children’s physical play to develop skills.

•    12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: “The Great Caper: A Visual Scavenger Hunt and Story” Emily Lowe Gallery, Behind Emily Lowe Hall, South Campus. For children aged 6-12. To register call the Hofstra University Museum at (516) 463-5672. Join the Hofstra University Museum education staff as it uncovers details in the works in the exhibit Children’s Pleasures: American Celebrations of Childhood and uses the discoveries to create a story.

•    2 to 3 p.m.: “Kids on the Block” at the Multipurpose Room, Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center, North Campus. For children of all ages. An interactive puppet show that vividly and effectively models relationships between people, both with and without disabilities, by using frank and often humorous communication of facts and feelings between the puppet characters and the audience.

•    3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Active Play: Street Games at the Physical Fitness Center, North Campus. For parents and children aged 10 and older. This session introduces children and families to games that have been part of playing in New York City for years.

Sunday, March 21: The National Circus Project, sponsored by Hofstra Entertainment

Fee: $15 adults, $10 senior citizens (over 65) and $10 children 18 and younger. Children under 3 are admitted free. Times are 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m., followed by a 45 minute workshop under the little top tent.
Location is Monroe Lecture Center Theater, California Avenue, South Campus. For tickets and more information call the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644 or visit www.hofstra.edu/HofstraEntertainment.

The National Circus Project’s performances and programs provide an opportunity for everyone to experience
the unique cultural traditions and the incredible fun of the circus! This five-artist extravaganza showcases a
variety of skills, comedy, and plenty of audience interaction. These world-class artists bring a cultural dimension to the arts experience and have often included performers from England, Japan, Puerto Rico, Russia, Latvia and China. The interactive workshops are a hands-on experience with traditional circus skills, including juggling, plate spinning, devil sticks, and balancing. This is a fun and exciting way to be coached directly by world-class circus professionals and have a positive learning experience.

For questions relating to the symposium and associated events and activities call the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669 or visit www.hofstra.edu/culture.