In a study of 3- to 5-year-old, firstborn children, the quality of the children's play with peers, engagement in fantasy play with peers, and management of peer conflict predicted the quality of the children's interactions with their 6- and 14-month-old, second-born siblings. (BC)

This paper explores the relationship between mental activity and physical well-being, through examination of such component activities as imagery, relaxation, sociodrama, and play. The paper concludes that wellness involves the physical and mental health of an individual, positive future images, and true communication with ourselves and others.…

Adding plastic gutters to the nursery school's sand area began as a science curriculum enhancement and evolved into a whole curriculum that stimulated cognitive exploration, cooperative dramatic play, language enhancement, and general fun. The children manipulated the gutters and materials such as sand, water, buckets, and tennis balls in a…

Three studies examined the relationship between specific forms of preschoolers' social and pretend play and divergent/convergent problem solving. Naturalistic and experimental designs were used to provide clearer account of relationship and to challenge assumption of single direction of influence. Results support complex reciprocal causality model…

Presents suggestions for creating play-learning environments designed to promote children's early literacy. Suggests that stimulating and inviting environments, abundant in print-rich materials, realistic props, and manipulatives meaningful to children are most valuable. Themes include hospital, pizza restaurant, hardware store, flower shop, candy…

This study observed the social/cognitive play of 46 young children who were deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH). With D/HH partners, children engaged primarily in constructive play, but in groups that included both D/HH and hearing partners, they engaged most frequently in dramatic play. Results suggest that group play varies according to the hearing…

The cognitive play of 13 preschool children with visual impairments was observed while the children played alone in their homes. Findings revealed that over half of the play behaviors were in the category of exploration and sensorimotor play, and symbolic play accounted for less than 4% of play. (Author/CR)

Although many teachers acknowledge that language and culture are critical components of children's development, actually incorporating materials representative of children's cultures remains a problem. This article explains how the dramatic play center is a natural place to promote multicultural awareness in the classroom and offers suggestions…

Believes structured playtime that occurs in a well-designed play center can provide rich opportunities for young children to construct knowledge related to both social studies and literacy. Expounds how elementary teachers can create an integrated play center by collaborating with their students on the design, implementation, and response to the…

Sustaining attention and successfully engaging with others in collaborative play are important accomplishments focused on in preschool classrooms and childcarecenters. In addition, music is frequently used in early childhood classrooms, and even recommended as an environmental feature to motivate and regulate children's behavior. Although pretend…

In this paper we examine the role of play in human ontogeny and phylogeny, following Surplus Resource Theory. We consider how juveniles use play to sample their environment in order to develop adaptive behaviors. We speculate about how innovative behaviors developed in play in response to environmental novelty may influence subsequent evolutionary…

As an occupational therapist running social play groups with sensory integration for children on the autism spectrum, the author frequently doubted the wisdom of combining several children on the spectrum into a group. In fact, as the owner of a clinic she said, "No more!" The groups seemed like a waste of parents' time and money, and she refused…

Associations of 6-week postpartum maternal self-criticism and dependency with 4-month mother-infant self- and interactive contingencies during face-to-face play were investigated in 126 dyads. Infant and mother face, gaze, touch, and vocal quality were coded second by second from split-screen videotape. Self- and interactive contingencies were…

Autism is characterized by deficits in pretend play, perspective taking, initiating and responding to others, and other profound social impairments. As the incidence of children being identified with autism increases, so does the need for effective interventions that target social skills development. Over the last decade, social skills…

This study evaluated the effects of individually composed songs on the independent behaviors of two young children with autism during the morning greeting/entry routine into their inclusive classrooms. A music therapist composed a song for each child related to the steps of the morning greeting routine and taught the children's teachers to sing…