Class on 10/21/10

 Excerpt on Erikson's Theory,

           Play is a critical part of children's total development. Most schools for children under six have periods of time allotted for play called "choice time" or "free play." Erikson supports these ideas explicitly by stating that the senses of autonomy and of initative are developed mainly through social and fantasy play. He suggsst that child's play is "the infantile form of the human ability to deal with experiences by creating model situations and to master reality by experiment and planning...To 'play it out' in play is the most natural self-healing measure childhood affords" (Erickson, 1964).