PLAYCENTRE PROGRESS

Press, 16 August 1980, Page 17

PLAYCENTRE PROGRESS

The Playcentre Way. By Alisa Densem. N.Z. Playcentre Federation, Auckland, 1980, 171 pp. $6.

(Reviewed by

Alison Neale)

Too often education practice in New Zealand has followed lamely in the steps of the United States. There is no need, for this. In early childhood education in particular, both preschool and junior school, New Zealand theory and practice is “up with the play.” “The. Playcentre Way” is the second book in a trilogy being published as textbooks . for playcentre training. The first of these, “Vital Play,” by’ Gwen Somerset, has proved its "worth for. many early childhood groups. This new book is more specifically concerned with playcentres,, but it contains much of interest to others. Playcentre is a uniquely New Zealand movement which has strongly’ influenced early childhood education elsewhere, particularly in Britain and Australia. Mrs Densem outlines early playcentre philosophy and goes on to

deal with how this is translated into practice. The book has a wealth of practical information on encouraging the learning of young children and supervising their play. Working in a co-operative of any sort has its problems and playcentres are no exception. The chapter “People Make a Playcentre” deals with ways of. helping a co-operative to run smoothly. Part two of the book describes the history of the Playcentre movement and the influences which have helped form its philosophy’. The final section looks at methods in early childhood education and gives a playcentre viewpoint in the continuing discussion.on the relative importance of teacher directed learning and free play. Undoubtedly biased in favour of playcentres,. "the author nevertheless recognises that such parent cooperatives are only one type of preschool amongst others. Her book gives a valuable description of playcentres for those not involved in the movement. It should prove invaluable for playcentre training.