Professional Summary
Dr. Kuschner is an associate professor in the early childhood education program. His main academic interests include child development, young children's play, and the history and philosophy of early childhood education. I am also interested in the implications of Piaget's theory for early childhood education and am co-author (with George Forman) of the book, The child's construction of knowledge: Piaget for teaching children. My most recent research interests include the play of children during times of war and the historical origins of the concept of free play.
Research Support
Grant: #NSF DRL-1114674 Investigators:Boat, Mary Barbara; Brown, Rhonda; Carr, Victoria; Johnson, Carla; Kloos, Adelheid; Kuschner, David; Meyer, Helen; Moomaw, Sally Coup; Pan, Wei; Plevyak, Linda 10-01-2011 -09-30-2013 National Science Foundation Playscapes: Designed Nature Environments to Promote Informal Science Learning Role:Collaborator $330,124.00 Active Level:Federal
Publications
Published Books
Kushner, D. (2009. ) From children to red hatters: Diverse images and issues of play .Lanham, Maryland , University press of america
Book Chapter
Kuschner,D. Play and culture studies Children's play in the journal, Young Children: An analysis of how it is portrayed and why it is valued .JAI Press
Presentations
Invited Presentations
Kuschner, D. (05-2006. ) The legacy of Mildred Parten .The Association for the Study of Play, Brock University, Ontario.
Kuschner, D (02-2005. ) Montessori comes to America: What does play have to do with it? .Paper presented at the Annual Conference of The Association for the Study of Play (TASP), Santa Fe, NM.
Kuschner, D. (02-2004. ) Life upon the wicked stage: Play and darkness in the musicals of Oscar Hammerstein II .Paper presented at The Association for the Study of Play Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Kuschner, D (02-2001. ) Children .The Association for the Study of Play, Santa Fe, NM.
Paper Presentations
Kushner, D. (11-2008. ) Play and the curriculum: A problem of "unremitting contradictions" .Brownsville, TX.
Kushner, D. (02-2009. ) "As If": The importance of make believe for children, parents, and other human beings .Brownsville, TX.
Kushner, D. (11-20-2009. ) All play is not created equal: Fundamental assumptions of, and what's missing in, the new developmentall appropriate practice .Washington, D.C.
Kushner, D. (03-11-2010. ) Play, the urban child, and the new developmentally appropriate practice .Atlanta, GA.