Reports on an educational project that focused on the nature of the support one teacher gave to the children in her kindergarten class while engaging with them in literacy play. Contends that the project revealed that young children have their own assumptions about and knowledge of the written language, which they actively use in their play. (PM)

Describes one child's fascination with the properties of water during indoor and outdoor activities and discusses how outdoor play allows toddlers to engage in leisurely investigations. Shows how outdoor play allows children to set challenges for themselves, become more engrossed, and less dependent on adults. (KB)

Shows how mathematics is integrated into everyday hands-on activities and problem-solving situations in one preschool. Provides examples of how themes emerge from children's interests and are incorporated in classroom learning centers. Asserts that meaningful teaching methods and pictorial demonstrations and manipulatives engage preschoolers in…

This article discusses an action research project that targeted the social interaction skills of seven students (ages 5-7) with autism. Through group games at recess and award stickers each day for playing the games, children increased their participation in the games, learned new games, and demonstrated good sportsmanship. (Contains 10…

The desire of parents for self-improvement can often be met by adult education classes that focus on child rearing and family relationships. This kind of educational opportunity seems to be imminent in Portugal, where stability is emerging after years of political and economic unrest. (CB)

Argues that, as the world becomes increasingly less human and more technocratic, staying in contact with whatever is humane requires conscious effort. Suggests the use of poetry writing assignments as a means of preserving children's inventiveness and imagination. Provides examples of poems written by schoolchildren. (SG)

States the position of the National Association for the Education of Young Children on violence in children's programing. Presents research upon which the statement is based, as well as recommendations for policymakers, teachers, and parents. (PCB)

Female socialization, through the influence of gender as a social institution, acts as a powerful constraint on women's involvement in physical recreation. The contribution made to this socialization by young children's play behavior and the link between gender-role conformity and dual career women's lack of leisure are discussed. (IAH)

Integrating infants with visual impairments into playgroups for nonhandicapped infants and their parents has been successfully accomplished and offers benefits to both infants and parents. A model demonstration project, "Parents and Visually Impaired Infants Project," integrated infants into a community program involving play, music, and…

Describes learning activities based on the U.S. Constitution that enhance higher level thinking skills in elementary students. One activity proposes a hypothetical constitutional amendment banning Saturday cartoons; a second taxes children's earnings; and other activities focus on dramatizing events surrounding the Constitutional Convention. (LS)

Studied play development in 35 Down syndrome and 41 nonhandicapped young children during the transition from sensorimotor to representational functioning. During the transition, children with Down syndrome developed in a manner similar to that of nonhandicapped children, but at a slower pace. (RJC)

Discusses the importance of the outdoor play area for infant and toddler cognitive, physical and social development. Also discusses design, landscape and arrangement considerations for the play area. (RJC)

Describes learning that takes place during children's play. Scenarios involve a 15-month-old who tries to work keys into a sideboard, a 2 1/2-year-old who takes a truck from other children, and a 4-year-old who plays with blocks with other children. (RJC)

Reviews three books: (1) "A Practical Parent's Handbook on Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities" (Shelby Holley); (2) "Children Can't Wait: Reducing Delays for Children in Foster Care" (Katharine Cahn and Paul Johnson); and (3) "Transdisciplinary Play-Based Intervention: Guidelines for Developing a Meaningful…

The outdoor environment is a significant and essential component of curriculum for young children, having the potential to foster and extend all aspects of development. Children can experience a greater sense of freedom and nature than is generally possible indoors. Evidence suggests that early childhood teachers underestimate the importance of…