We explore the panorama of children's traditional play, the rhymes, games,
riddles, stories and related lore of childhood. We will view the child's
peer group as the natural habitat of children's folklore. We will examine
how this lore takes shape in the peer group, how it is patterned and
structured, and what it accomplishes for the children. We will pay
attention to children's folklore as a factor in the social, verbal, and
mental development of the child. Our quest is for the "cerebral" child,
actively engaged in trying to make sense and nonsense out of his/her
experience in the world.

Students will be required to read approximately one article a week. In
addition to two exams, students will be assigned to carry out a field
project observing children at play in the real world.

Fulfills a COAS Arts and Humanities, Traditions and Ideas distribution
requirement and is on List A of the COAS Culture Studies requirement.