Cover image for The design of childhood : how the material world shapes independent kids
The design of childhood : how the material world shapes independent kids
Title:
The design of childhood : how the material world shapes independent kids
ISBN:
9781632866356
Physical Description:
407 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm.
Contents:
Introduction -- Blocks -- House -- School -- Playground -- City -- Conclusion.
Summary:
From building blocks to city blocks, an eye-opening exploration of how children's playthings and physical surroundings affect their development. Parents obsess over their children's playdates, kindergarten curriculum, and every bump and bruise, but the toys, classrooms, playgrounds, and neighborhoods little ones engage with are just as important. These objects and spaces encode decades, even centuries of changing ideas about what makes for good child-rearing--and what does not. Do you choose wooden toys, or plastic, or, increasingly, digital? What do youngsters lose when seesaws are deemed too dangerous and slides are designed primarily for safety? How can the built environment help children cultivate self-reliance? In these debates, parents, educators, and kids themselves are often caught in the middle. Now, prominent design critic Alexandra Lange reveals the surprising histories behind the human-made elements of our children's pint-size landscape. Her fascinating investigation shows how the seemingly innocuous universe of stuff affects kids' behavior, values, and health, often in subtle ways. And she reveals how years of decisions by toymakers, architects, and urban planners have helped--and hindered--American youngsters' journeys toward independence. Seen through Lange's eyes, everything from the sandbox to the street becomes vibrant with buried meaning. Perfect for parents, educators, and anyone interested in design and architecture, [this book] will change the way you view the world--by showing it to you through children's eyes. --
Holds: