“Child’s Play:” How Capitalism Extinguishes Creativity Through Repression of Play

Professor emerita Susan Ferguson’s latest book, Child’s Play: Childhood In and Against Capitalism, addresses the ways childhood is managed and controlled to sustain capitalism and turn playful kids into productive workers. Although the text is dense and academic, Ferguson zeroes in on the ways kindergarten classrooms and playgrounds are organized to “disrupt a potentially seamless relation between play and work.” To start, the book describes young children as generally creative and inventive, willing to resist authority and organize games and activities that meet their needs. To wit, by crafting new narratives to replace the realities of abuse, deprivation, and neglect at home, kids typically conjure the fantasy world they want and need. Over time, however, Ferguson sees this creative spark extinguished as kids-turned-adults begin working at jobs that are devoid of joy.

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