A beginning of an exploration of children’s play and death by Maggie Jackson a presentation from the BSA Sociology of Death, Dying and Bereavement Study Group Symposium on 15 November 2013.

1. A beginning of an exploration
of children’s play and death.
O An initial exploration of children, play and
death: a foucauldian analysis.
O Maggie Jackson
O Teesside University UK
O m.j.jackson@tees.ac.uk

3. O Death is part of education
O New England primer
O T- time cuts down all both great and small
O Y-youth forwards slips death soonest nips

6. O “the idea of death occurs
very readily in the
fantasies of normal
children”
O (Anthony 1940 p.192)

7. The funeral – children’s play
O
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Karin: Da da da Mummy, Wake up!!
Maja: But I was ill.
Karin: I was ill too, because I was soon going to die …
Maja: Mmm …
Karin: That’s why I am in … I am in the grave.
Karin climbs up on the chute.
Maja: Mmm …
Karin: Aren’t I?
Maja: Mmm …
Maja: You have to die first before you can be buried.
Karin: I was out there.
Karin jumps down on the floor. (Löfdahl 2005)

11. O “even pre-school children
can be quite sophisticated
in their comprehension of
death”
O Stambrook and Parker 1987 p.153)