Pretend play is important for children's development. However, recent research indicates that, as preschool children age and get more proficient at pretend play, they prefer real objects. We examined whether toddlers prefer real objects when they are younger as well as when they are older and more proficient in pretend play situations. Forty-three…

Teachers' perspectives of play differ widely because of social and cultural influences that can be seen in their values and beliefs about play in different countries. In a global community, sharing educators' knowledge of play and their perspectives of how to educate children through the use of play would be appropriate and complementary in…

As young children enter formal schooling, they are at various points along their individual developmental paths toward literacy. Generally, their egocentric speech is becoming more social and they are building their capacity for logical thought and concrete problem-solving. This is a gradual development and teachers can support children's literacy…

Explores the preferences exhibited by 40 10- and 11-year-olds and 40 13- and 14-year-olds for rhythm patterns and scale modes used in Japanese folk songs. Reveals that bouncing rhythms appeal to Japanese elementary school children while junior high students widened their preferences to scale or melody movement, disregarding bouncing rhythm. (CMK)