Beyond Banning War and Superhero Play Meeting Young Children's Needs in Violent Times (continued)

• Work closely with families. Reducing children’s exposure to violence is one essential way to reduce their need to bring violence into their play. Most of young children’s exposure to violence occurs in the home, so family involvement is vital. Through parent workshops and family newsletters that include resource materials such as those listed here, teachers can help families learn more about how to protect children from violence, help children deal with the violence that still gets in, and promote play with openended toys and nonviolent play themes (Levin 1998a, 2003). In addition, families can learn about how to resist the advertising for toys linked to violence in ways that keep the peace in the family (Levin 1998a; Levin & Linn in press).

Diane E. Levin, Ph.D., is a professor of education at Wheelock College in Boston. For many years her work has focused on how to promote children’s healthy development, learning, and behavior in violent times.

References

Cantor, J. 1998. “Mommy, I’m scared!” How TV and movies frighten children and what we can do to protect them. New York: Harcourt Brace.

Carlsson-Paige, N., & D.E. Levin. 1987. The war play dilemma: Balancing needs and values in the early childhood classroom. New York: Teachers College Press.

Carlsson-Paige, N., & D.E. Levin. 1990. Who’s calling the shots? How to respond effectively to children’s fascination with war play and war toys. Gabriola Island, BC, CAN: New Society.

Katch, J. 2001. Under dead man’s skin: Discovering the meaning of children’s violent play. Boston: Beacon.

Levin, D.E. 1998a. Remote control childhood? Combating the hazards of media culture. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Levin, D.E. 1998b. Play with violence. In Play from birth to twelve: Contexts, perspectives, and meanings, eds. D. Fromberg & D. Bergin. New York: Garland.

Levin, D.E. 2003. Teaching young children in violent times: Building a peaceable classroom. 2d ed. Cambridge, MA: Educators for Social Responsibility; Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Levin, D.E., & Linn, S. In press. The commercialization of childhood. In Psychology and the consumer culture, eds. T. Kasser & A. Kanner. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.