The major components of playfulness in kindergarten children are physical, social, and cognitive spontaneity, manifest joy, and sense of humor. Children who are highly playful also show high scores in divergent and creative thinking. Piaget postulated that after the age of 7 or 8 this quality is replaced by assimilating the objective facts of the…

The purpose of this research is to show that the logical formula for equivalence, (A=A; but is not A'), originates in the early manual actions of the young child. Having two hands that are bilaterally opposed and initially function in bilaterally symmetrical action might serve to structure the form of early sensori-motor experiences and this…

This paper compares the effects of television viewing to the effects of imaginative play on children's cognitive development. The major developmental tasks which confront the growing child are presented and the significance of imaginative play as a critical feature of the child's cognitive and affective development is discussed. The cognitive…

This paper presents three research studies. The first study investigated the use of boys' and girls' play areas, each stocked with sex-type toys, by day care children with male, female, or mixed teacher teams. Examined were the sex of play areas users and the effect of sex of teacher team on the structure of play in each play area. The second…

This handbook, primarily for parents and teachers of preschool through third grade children, provides some insights into Piaget's theories about how children think and learn and presents ideas for using Piagetian-type activities and games in the home or classroom. (The handbook does not attempt to give a comprehensive analysis of Piaget's theory…

Naturalistic observation of the spontaneous role-taking behavior of 16 four-year-old children (8 boys, 8 girls) in a free play situation with a same-sex peer was used to investigate the sex role perceptions and preferences of young children. Videotape recordings of the unelicited male, female, parental, and conjugal role portrayals were examined…

Distributed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services, this Spanish-language pamphlet provides parents with information and advice about their infants in the twelfth month of life. Following a brief description of developmental characteristics at this age, the pamphlet offers advice on a variety of topics,…

Extensive empirical research has documented the value of play for both cognitive and social development. In this collection, leading experts in play research, child development, and early childhood education examine recent policy decisions and demonstrate the importance of play in helping children learn basic literacy skills, social awareness,…

Distributed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services, this pamphlet provides parents with information and advice about their infants in the fifth month of life. Following a brief description of developmental characteristics at this age, the pamphlet offers information on topics including infant medicines,…

Briefly discusses the evolution of children's real and imaginary fears and appropriate ways that preschool teachers and caregivers can help children cope with these fears. (BB)

Examines role of play and experiential learning in early childhood education. Summarizes educational experiments and research projects on outdoor experiential play for enhancing adventuresomeness, self challenge, cognitive development, and socialization of young children. Suggests need for traditional and experiential educators to develop…

Describes the development and use of the Verbal Plan and Evaluation program, an instructional model applicable for free play time and based on Vygotsky's view that teachers' active involvement in children's verbalization of planning and evaluating play activities facilitates the development of their mental processes. Presents teaching strategies…

Relations between children's peer play competence and other relevant competencies were investigated using two samples of urban Head Start children. Dimensions of peer play were examined concurrently with emotion regulation, autonomy, and language. Children exhibiting high levels of peer play interaction were found to demonstrate more competent…

Mother-child play of 12-month-old infants (N = 130) from maltreating (N = 78) and nonmaltreating (N = 52) families was analyzed as a context that integrates infants' developing social and cognitive skills. Play was coded from semistructured and unstructured play paradigms. No group differences were found in infants' play maturity. Infants from…

This study investigates features of interaction between children that are linked to the development of understanding of mind, and asks whether these associations are evident across different relationships. Comparisons are made of the naturally occurring conversations in a sample of 43 4-year-old children, each observed with a sibling and with a…