Play is children's active involvement with the environment and the things in it. It is apparently enjoyable, voluntary, self-initiated, often social and a natural product of the processes of physical, social and cognitive growth. Play is also the context in which parents interact often and meaningfully with their children. But what do parents or…

This study compares the effectiveness of three methods of teaching object names to young children. These methods were (1) informal play, in which an adult named and described those objects with which a child played; (2) picture reading, in which an adult named and described objects depicted in photographs; and (3) a combination of the first and…

Subjects were 26 female three-, four- and five-year-old children who free-played four different sets, each containing a culturally-defined feminine, masculine and neutral toy. A same- or opposite-sex adult was either present or absent during play. Results included the following: (1) girls played longer than boys with feminine and neutral toys,…

The independent contributions of action and violence in television programs to children's attention and social behavior were investigated. Pairs of preschool children were assigned to one of four television conditions (1) high action-high violence, (2) high action-low violence, (3) low action-low violence, or (4) no television. Action was defined…

A study was undertaken to observe the frequency of play of 30 preschool handicapped children (physically, emotionally, or hearing impaired) in either a mainstreamed or segregated setting. Each S was observed 6 times over a 7 month period. Results showed a higher frequency of play in the mainstreamed preschool classroom, and that adult initiated…

This paper takes the position that toys can significantly modify children's behavior and that considerable care needs to go into the decisions one makes when buying a toy. Toys are regarded as educational aids and sources of potential learning. A given toy can provide a variety of lessons. Such lessons include: (1) learning about the various…

BY PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONS AND SAMPLE SCRIPTS, THE AUTHOR SHOWS TEACHERS HOW TO BROADEN THE ENVIRONMENT OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN THROUGH DRAMATIC PLAY. TECHNIQUES OF PLAY PLANNING, MATERIALS, ADAPTATIONS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, PLAY ORGANIZATION, AND PLAY PRESENTATION ARE DISCUSSED. NINE PLAY SCRIPTS AND FOUR MUSICAL REVIEWS DEVELOPED BY…

This study tests the hypothesis that components of play such as immagination contribute to cognitive development. Twenty-four middle-class children attending a university-affiliated preschool were observed for 20 one-minute play observations during the Spring Semesters of 1978 and 1979. Play was coded using categories for both social (solitary,…

In this study of early peer interaction, 32 first born infants (16 boys, 16 girls) were videotaped in pairs at 6, 9 and 12 months. Each 15 minute session consisted of Toys Present (TP) and Toys Absent(TA) conditions counterbalanced across dyads. Three questions were addressed: (1) Are infants as young as 6 months capable of interacting with a…

THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP EXPERIENCES IN CREATIVE DRAMATICS, CHILDREN CAN DEVELOP SELF-REALIZATION AS THEY BECOME INVOLVED IN THINKING, FEELING, AND EXPERIENCING. CREATIVE DRAMA AFFORDS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CONSTRUCTIVE CHANNELING OF EMOTIONS, DEVELOPS APPRECIATION OF THE WONDERS AND BEAUTY OF THE WORLD, PROMOTES THE ACQUISITION AND RETENTION…

This guide was designed to assist parents, teachers, youth leaders, and park and recreation directors in the safe selection, use, installation, maintenance and repair of playground equipment. The nature and necessity of children's play are discussed briefly and information is presented on four main types of playground equipment: (1) swings, (2)…

The concept of private languages holds that each person's words are symbols with which he identifies certain of his perceptions. Language operates in the public sphere only so long as the symbols used by a speaker to denote his perceptions roughly correspond to the symbols the listener uses for his perceptions. The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein…

Creative leisure activities make a profound contribution to the child's emotional, psychological, physical, aesthetic, and spiritual growth. We, as a nation, have failed to emphasize the importance of leisure experiences upon the individual. The prime obstacles have been two prejudicial attitudes: (1) that leisure is intrinsically less worthy than…

This speech presents a review of research concerning the nature of play. Some of the formal characteristics of play are: (a) it is distinct from ordinary life in its "temporariness" and its limitless location; (b) there is an element of tension in play that leads to uncertainty concerning the outcome but at the same time provides the opportunity…

This play, commissioned by Project Head Start, is designed to stimulate discussion and deepen understanding of key issues surrounding the confusion and conflicts that often arise when parents and professionals become entangled in disputes over "who is in charge" of the Head Start program. Guidelines for a discussion session following presentation…