A study of 16 autistic children (mean age 54.5 months) found functional and symbolic play skills associated with language ability and certain nonverbal skills (such as the ability to use gestures to coordinate attention between social partners) also correlated with language ability, but not with play variables. (Author/DB)

Young children's own perceptions of their preference for television viewing relative to other developmentally appropriate activities were studied through means of a questionnaire. The respondents rated television viewing as a less attractive activity than playing outside, playing with play dough, and building with sand, but few preferred story…

In this study, in which triads of children were filmed while they played with a toy, the relation between (1) preschoolers' emotional status and (2) their performance and receipt of prosocial behaviors was examined. (PCB)

Reviews the problems of classifying gaming techniques and suggests a heuristic approach as one solution. Definitions of simulation, models, role, and game and play are discussed to help develop a classification based on a technique called gaming simulation. (Author/LRW)

Developmental differences in the organization and complexity of dyadic play among 12 children of 4 1/2 years and 12 children of 3 years were investigated. While findings indicated no age differences in the organization of play, developmental and sex differences in the complexity of play were found. (RH)

Examined developmental changes in the influence of social goals on cooperative and competitive behavior in children between six and 13 years who played a game with a peer. Tendencies to engage in cooperative and combative moves and to use attentional words varied interactively with age, sex, order of instructions, instructions, and trials. (SKC)

Describes a day at the Bennett Park Montessori School in Buffalo, New York. Interviews the school's director and one of the teachers. Discusses Maria Montessori's ideas and their application at Bennett Park. (BJV)

The symbolic play and social participation of six language-impaired (mean age 6:9) and eight normal language-learning children (mean age 2:9) were compared. Language impaired subjects demonstrated significant deficits in symbolic, adaptive, and integrative play behaviors in comparison with the linguistically equivalent normal subjects. (Author/DB)

Describes the psychological importance of toys to children. Analyzes adult attitudes toward toys and explores the toy marketing techniques used on television commercials. Concludes by listing 6 ways in which toys may be used as a part of a social studies program. (JDH)

Type A behaviors were observed in a group of 48 preschool children in different free-play and competitive situations. Results are consistent with other findings on type A behavior in preschool children and suggest that the behavioral dimensions of type A (competitiveness and impatience-aggression) may emerge as early as the preschool years,…

Examines patterns of social relations established in same-sex groups of children in Minneapolis and Cincinnati. Although boys and girls establish play contexts with similar social role-taking demands, topics for play and conversational demands vary according to gender. (Author/LHW)

Examined stability of activity and attention in 48 boys, originally evaluated as outpatients in a child psychiatry clinic. Measures of gross and fine motor activity, sustained attention, and self-vocalization showed significant stability over the two years for both free play and restricted academic settings. (Author/BL)

The concurrent and predictive relations of sensorimotor behavior and play to language in the second year were assessed among 19 preterm and 20 full-term infants tested at 13 1/2 and 22 months of age. Numerous associations between play and language were identified; sensorimotor behavior and language in the same age period were relatively loosely…

Presents and illustrates by clinical examples a theoretical framework for developing, describing, and analyzing family-therapeutic techniques involving make-believe play. Induces specifications of the therapeutic goals served by the technique and its procedural details and an analysis of its rationale. Draws on a definition of the concept…

Children's natural endeavors that enable them to attain self-realization and fulfillment were given the name "self-activity" by the German philosopher Friedrich Froebel. Discussed are components traceable to the self-activity principle that appear in early childhood song materials published around the turn of the century. (RM)