Discusses the role of play in development from both cultural-evolutionary and ontogenetic-historical perspectives. These perspectives illuminate how play and imitation are important for the developing individual who is seen as influencing a changing cultural environment. (Author/RH)

Acknowledging that potting is a phenomenon, accepting Gadamer's definition of play, and observing Alex making pots leads to a description that within Alex's potting occur: 1) to-and-fro movement; 2) choices; and 3) transformation. This method may be undertaken to further describe the experience for another potter. (Author)

Results from a study of 40 one-year-old children and their mothers showed that maternal interference with children's independent object play had no short-term effect on infant social initiatives to mother, responsiveness to mother's social bids, or exploratory play. (JMB)

To test the hypothesis that pretend play has a facilitatory effect on young children's spatial perspective taking, 45 children were individually engaged in fantasy or non-fantasy interactions with an adult, after which they were administered three standard perspective-taking tasks by a blind examiner. Supportive evidence was found. (Author/SJL)

One hundred and thirty-two children were selected from kindergarten and fourth grade to serve as subjects in an experiment which investigated the effects of cognitive development and need states on altruistic behavior. (Author/DB)

Discusses the value of thematic play in the social, cognitive, and personality development of preschool children. (Author/DB)

One-year-old middle-class infants (N=41) were observed in a free-play setting, administered 11 structured tasks to assess their persistence in mastering tasks, and given the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. As part of another study, home observations were available for 40 of the infants at age one and for 23 of the infants at six months of…

Gambling as a sophisticated form of adult play reaffirms the individual's existence and confirms the individual's worth. (LH)

Four- and five-year-old children in traditional and Montessori nursery schools were observed for social interaction during free play. Results are discussed as they relate to child/adult ratio and differences across and within settings. (RC)

Discusses the importance of play in childhood and the need for play space, time and companions. (SB)

Although school break times have been justified by children's need to release surplus energy, research findings show little support for this theory. Restlessness and inattentiveness may be attributable to boredom. Regular breaks can be justified for other reasons. (SK)

Internationally known counselor educator and author Garry Landreth has a passion for filial therapy. In this interview article, Landreth discusses the basic principles and procedures of filial therapy, the 10-week Filial Therapy Training Model he has developed, and the research that he and his colleagues and students are doing on filial therapy.…

Five proposals are made for incorporating a work-play perspective in career development research: (1) fuse work and play conceptually over the life course; (2) imbue developmental career theory with a work-play fusion; (3) study work and play across the life span; (4) investigate work and play within the life space; and (5) consider a work-play…

Investigated whether experiencing 25 minutes of unstructured play in a preceding task influenced the creativity of 6- and 7-year-olds in a subsequent activity. Found that there was a positive effect of a preceding salt-dough play activity upon the creativity and range of colors used in creating a collage with a controlled range of materials.…

Discusses the de-escalation strategies which children aged 4-1/2 half to six used in conflict episodes which occurred in children's conversations in the dramatic play and block areas of three kindergarten classrooms. (RJC)