Two-year-olds and four-year-olds were placed with male and female adults in a play situation where the children were forced to control the choice of toys and mode of interaction. The four-year-olds elicited different types of play behaviors from male and female adults; the younger children did not. (Author/KH)

Argues that medieval drama in performance suggests a number of important issues about the nature of literature, particularly about the way narrative and dramatic art can express the life of a community. Presents a series of exercises that start with familiar, nonthreatening situations in order to approach the richness of medieval plays and the…

Four children were videotaped playing with their mothers, first in a situation with gestures, and then in a situation without gestures. Results showed that maternal gestures have more of a role in maintaining attention and flow of interaction for young children than they do in providing specific cues to the grammar the child is acquiring. (SL)

A study to be published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders showed that when two children with autism were greeted by their teacher with a song highlighting the morning routine, their ability to independently complete that routine increased. Songs helped the children enter the classroom, greet the teacher and classmates, and…

This book focuses on literacy development during the all-important Foundation Stage years. It is aimed at anyone who works with the three-plus age group -- nursery nurses, nursery teachers, Reception class teachers, nursery and Reception assistants and students practising in day nurseries, nursery schools or Reception classes. The book sets out…

Inclusive play embraces dimensions of richness, diversity, appreciation of difference and is both simple and complex too. By aiming for inclusive play educators are simply aiming for the best play experiences to all children. Play opportunities ought to be full of possibilities with which the children can engage and questions that they can pose…

Current research is revealing that physical activity can protect against a range of lifestyle diseases and illnesses. Consequently, early childhood practitioners and parents need to adopt guidelines and practices which encourage children of all ages to be physically active. In "Active children: Healthy Now and Later," authors Linley…

This curriculum guide for preschool teachers was designed for use with wooden unit and hollow blocks to foster a variety of math, science, language, and social skills. Following an introduction to the curriculum and a discussion of cooperative learning and stages of block building, the guide is divided into three parts. Part 1 of the guide,…

This issue focuses on "Toys and Games." Students are encouraged to explore games of the past, particularly from the early 1900s. Activities include playing games from the past and making toys. Feature articles describe toys and games through time, Iowa-made toys, ethnic games, how play imitates work, and how world events impact play.…

This paper details a project in which a counselor educator and 12 counseling graduate students, trained in child-centered play therapy, worked in an inner city school with 4th-6th grade students during the 1996-1997 academic year. The play therapy training undergone by the graduate students and the facility used for the therapy sessions are…

Neighborhood parks and playgrounds are included in the planning of residential areas in Sweden, but the specific requirements and needs of children are seldom considered. In a pilot study in the town of Eslov, a focus group of seven teachers and planners identified outdoor places which they thought were preferred by children, and four boys and…

Noting that observing preschool children at play allows teachers to understand how individual children develop their social skills, this article describes different levels of social play and shows how teachers may use a running record and check list to assess such play. Children are described as engaging in onlooker play, solitary play, parallel…

This document consists of the three 1999 issues of a newsletter published to disseminate information and resources to child care providers and administrators in Canada. The Winter 1999 issue deals with safety for the adults working in child care centers, and discusses risk factors associated with noise, child sized seating, and changing tables.…

This paper considers the connection between play and literacy in the early childhood classroom. The paper discusses five literacy goals that can be reached by supporting children's natural inclination toward playful endeavors: (1) developing symbolic processes; (2) fostering language growth; (3) supporting the ability to solve problems; (4)…

In these politically charged times of early literacy initiatives, position statements, and education reform, talk about play and literacy learning seems rather awkward, if not even a bit silly. As the realities of early literacy education set in, teachers, legislators, and parents grow ever more critical of what young children are doing as…