Eighteen handicapped and six nonhandicapped preschool children were observed during free play time. Children engaged in social behavior more often when playing with toys classified as social toys compared to isolate toys, and the incidence of social play was higher in integrated groups than in nonintegrated groups. (Author/JDD)

Uses the emergent goals framework of G. Saxe (1991) to illustrate how the mathematical problems that emerge in children's play of Monopoly are interwoven with their developing competencies and social interactions. Findings from six groups of four children each, ranging in age from 8 to 14 years, show that the mathematics that emerged during play…

Illustrates how children's "poetic voices in action" provide context for the writing of poetry. Describes how the author taped hours of classroom interaction and the talk that surrounded the children's writing, browsing, reading and performance of poetry. Shares examples of reflective voices at play. Examines ways in which teachers can…

Five experiments tested whether children understand pretense intentions before they understand pretense mental representations. Findings revealed that children did not understand that intention is crucial to pretense. Various methodological factors that might have compromised results such as force choice versus yes-no questions or using a…

Maintains that Lillard's and Joseph's articles provide an example of how apparently divergent empirical results may turn out to reflect interesting differences between children and adults. The researchers agreed that for young children, pretense is often, but not necessarily, intentional and neither found evidence for a representational…

Studied the role of popular culture in the literacy curriculum by focusing on superhero role play by 57 6- and 7-year-olds. Findings suggest that superhero play is strongly attractive to girls, who explore agency and autonomy through such plays. (SLD)

Children recognize two kinds of classroom play: instrumental play organized by teachers for academic purposes; and illicit play stressing surreptitious, unsanctioned activities like whispering and clowning around. Each is associated with a particular form of classroom community. This article considers how the nature of classroom play influences…

Presents a therapeutic model in which the mental-health counselor functions as a play therapist with children who have been sexually abused. The therapy is based on existential, client-centered, and developmental theories and it relieves the emotional distress of sexual abuse through a variety of expressive-play materials. (RJM)

Studied 2-year olds' understanding of pretense expressions of independent agency in scenarios in which a doll acted as the agent of a series of pretend events. Found no gender differences in the doll's imaginary intentions, but older toddlers performed reliably better than younger. Episodes requiring enacting conclusions to events that began with…

Examined 22 Head Start teachers' involvement in activity settings, their roles, and their talk during free play. Found that teachers were most often in the role of play enhancer/playmate and stage manager. Teachers spent most time in constructive and manipulative activity settings. Their talk focused most often on statements and questions…

Considers aspects of talk into telephones by young children in play. Examines expression of the incorporation of recognition of another's perspective, a movement towards recontextualization of language from the primary conversational contexts of joint environment, and experiences reflected in face-to-face talk on here-and-now topics with familiar…

A veteran adventure educator offers pearls of wisdom: identify those people who want/need to meet, and encourage them to do that; identify something that no one else wants to do, and do it well; failing forward with confidence regularly produces better results than confident discussion; play mitigates fear; a good idea doesn't care who has it; and…

Deplores the trend toward competitive, market-oriented forms of outdoor adventure education that speak of "outcomes,""risk management," and "performance indicators." Discusses children's need for time to play outdoors and develop ecological awareness and sense of place through sensory experiences. Calls for outdoor…

By carefully planning for outdoor play, adults can help ensure that outdoor experiences are challenging and safe for young children. Creative outdoor play should encourage healthy risk taking; offer graduated challenges; include variety in types of play; focus on child-centered and child-planned activities; and include the use of moveable…

Videotaped four- and five-year-olds playing to investigate conflict emotions during peer disputes. Found that initiators', recipients', and observers' emotions differed in the conflict and postconflict periods. Conflict initiators almost exclusively expressed happiness, whereas conflict recipients expressed mostly sadness and anger. Conflict…