CHILDREN IN THE MIDST OF WAR - PARADOXES OF PLAY

The perception of play as a good is a basic premise in leisure studies . But an examination of the dark side of play has much to offer those who want to explore leisure more fully. One example of dark play is fo und in children's behavior during war. From World War II to modern inn er city conflicts, studies indicate that children continue to play eve n during the darkest horrors, that their play, characteristic of sound mental health, enables them to transcend atrocities. This study sugge sts that the play of these children has profound implications for the field of leisure studies.