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Bad Guys Don't Have Birthdays: Fantasy Play at Four
Bad guys are not allowed to have birthdays, pick blueberries, or disturb the baby. So say the four-year-olds who announce life's risks and dangers as they play out the school year in Vivian Paley's classroom.
Their play is filled with warnings. They invent chaos in order to show that everything is under control. They portray fear to prove that it can be conquered. No theme is too large or too small for their intense scrutiny. Fantasy play is their ever dependable pathway to knowledge and certainty.
" It . . . takes a special teacher to value the young child's communications sufficiently, enter into a meaningful dialogue with the youngster, and thereby stimulate more productivity without overwhelming the child with her own ideas. Vivian Paley is such a teacher."—Maria W. Piers, in the American Journal of Education
"[Mrs. Paley's books] should be required reading wherever children are growing. Mrs. Paley does not presume to understand preschool children, or to theorize. Her strength lies equally in knowing that she does not know and in trying to learn. When she cannot help children—because she can neither anticipate nor follow their thinking—she strives not to hinder them. She avoids the arrogance of adult to small child; of teacher to student; or writer to reader."—Penelope Leach, author of Your Baby & Child in the New York Times Book Review
"[Paley's] stories and interpretation argue for a new type of early childhood education . . . a form of teaching that builds upon the considerable knowledge children already have and grapple with daily in fantasy play."—Alex Raskin, Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Through the 'intuitive language' of fantasy play, Paley believes, children express their deepest concerns. They act out different roles and invent imaginative scenarios to better understand the real world. Fantasy play helps them cope with uncomfortable feelings. . . . In fantasy, any device may be used to draw safe boundaries."—Ruth J. Moss, Psychology Today
Their play is filled with warnings. They invent chaos in order to show that everything is under control. They portray fear to prove that it can be conquered. No theme is too large or too small for their intense scrutiny. Fantasy play is their ever dependable pathway to knowledge and certainty.
" It . . . takes a special teacher to value the young child's communications sufficiently, enter into a meaningful dialogue with the youngster, and thereby stimulate more productivity without overwhelming the child with her own ideas. Vivian Paley is such a teacher."—Maria W. Piers, in the American Journal of Education
"[Mrs. Paley's books] should be required reading wherever children are growing. Mrs. Paley does not presume to understand preschool children, or to theorize. Her strength lies equally in knowing that she does not know and in trying to learn. When she cannot help children—because she can neither anticipate nor follow their thinking—she strives not to hinder them. She avoids the arrogance of adult to small child; of teacher to student; or writer to reader."—Penelope Leach, author of Your Baby & Child in the New York Times Book Review
"[Paley's] stories and interpretation argue for a new type of early childhood education . . . a form of teaching that builds upon the considerable knowledge children already have and grapple with daily in fantasy play."—Alex Raskin, Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Through the 'intuitive language' of fantasy play, Paley believes, children express their deepest concerns. They act out different roles and invent imaginative scenarios to better understand the real world. Fantasy play helps them cope with uncomfortable feelings. . . . In fantasy, any device may be used to draw safe boundaries."—Ruth J. Moss, Psychology Today
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1900
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75 people want to read
About the author
Vivian Gussin Paley
21 books63 followersVivian Gussin Paley was an American pre-school and kindergarten teacher, early childhood education researcher, and author.
She taught and did most of her research at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. Despite her status in the field today, she has described the first thirteen years of her teaching career as being an "uninspired and uninspiring teacher."
She taught and did most of her research at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. Despite her status in the field today, she has described the first thirteen years of her teaching career as being an "uninspired and uninspiring teacher."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 3, 2020
Jamie, Central patron, August 2020, 4 stars:
Very informative look into children's play ages 3 to 4.
Very informative look into children's play ages 3 to 4.
July 15, 2014
When I made an offhand comment to the director of my son's preschool about how I hate the superhero / weapon play that is going on right now in our life, she told me that it is not only normal but important. When I recovered from my shock and asked why on earth it was important, she recommended that I read this book.
I will say that this book helped to normalize some of the "bad guy" "shoot-em-up" play that I see. I loved the style of it -- the author, a teacher, transcribed conversations that her 3 and 4 year old students had during the course of their play over several months. And she interspersed her own interpretation and commentary about what she was hearing and observing. The three recurring themes in her class that year (chosen by students through their fantasy play) were bad guys, birthdays, and babies and the incorporation of these 3 themes played different roles in their play. I often squelch talk of "bad guys" especially when kids are telling another kid that s/he is a "bad guy." But after reading this book I can see that, unless kids are upset by their assigned (or chosen) role, they should be allowed to play out their ideas. They are using these concepts to grapple with fears and frustrations in their real life. And their interpretation of what they are doing is much different than the way adults see their actions.
I only gave the book 3 stars because, while I thought the format was effective and I enjoyed reading it, I felt like it excluded too much of the tears and heartache that I feel come along with this kind of play. However, I just started reading another book by Vivian Paley called You Can't Say You Can't Play and I feel like the two books together might paint a clearer picture of the kind of play that can simultaneously help kids work through their issues while also hurting feelings and making others feel left out. Maybe then I'll have some answers about the limits I want to set for our house.
I will say that this book helped to normalize some of the "bad guy" "shoot-em-up" play that I see. I loved the style of it -- the author, a teacher, transcribed conversations that her 3 and 4 year old students had during the course of their play over several months. And she interspersed her own interpretation and commentary about what she was hearing and observing. The three recurring themes in her class that year (chosen by students through their fantasy play) were bad guys, birthdays, and babies and the incorporation of these 3 themes played different roles in their play. I often squelch talk of "bad guys" especially when kids are telling another kid that s/he is a "bad guy." But after reading this book I can see that, unless kids are upset by their assigned (or chosen) role, they should be allowed to play out their ideas. They are using these concepts to grapple with fears and frustrations in their real life. And their interpretation of what they are doing is much different than the way adults see their actions.
I only gave the book 3 stars because, while I thought the format was effective and I enjoyed reading it, I felt like it excluded too much of the tears and heartache that I feel come along with this kind of play. However, I just started reading another book by Vivian Paley called You Can't Say You Can't Play and I feel like the two books together might paint a clearer picture of the kind of play that can simultaneously help kids work through their issues while also hurting feelings and making others feel left out. Maybe then I'll have some answers about the limits I want to set for our house.
August 18, 2009
Mostly a written transcript of events and conversations in Paley's classroom. A quick and easy read, an accurate portrayal of children's play and dialogue at age 4 (though I was a bit disturbed by the persistence of death and violence in their play, even though it's normal - just a little more intense than what I'm used to from my son and his friends.)
August 27, 2012
Such a spectacular book, in such a short little piece. This book is essentially the recorded play and stories of a class of four-year-olds, but the author (and their teacher) manages to get at something important about myth, power, and the need to reenact stories. I have three or four more of these. I'm going to space them out.
June 9, 2008
Excellent. Paley does a wonderful job at really listening to children and making their thought processes visible.
March 14, 2012
Classic Paley. Always insightful, humorous, and helpful. Illustrates how important play is for children, and also the important role of mothers and of stories.
May 13, 2012
A wonderful insight into the four year old preoccupation with imagination and fantasy from a fantastic teacher..
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews