Describes a play-based procedure for assessing young children's knowledge of the functions of writing. A case study highlights this discussion. (BB)

This article is a reflection on the author's M.Ed. research study, undertaken whilst working full time as a nursery teacher, in which she explores her concerns and the moments of illumination through the research process. She reflects on ways she began to make sense of young children's learning, using some key moments in the study, which examined…

The Grube Method of Instruction is a teaching and learning system for the acquisition and reinforcement of essential learned skills necessary for school success. The system consists of an illustrated book of useful information, a deck of standard playing cards, and an educationally designed gameboard. It is appropriate for students aged three…

This paper describes how to create a deck of 56 playing cards using historical or educational facts in place of the numbers on the playing cards. Card data also deal with various games and activities to address interest and learning styles. (EH)

Discriminative stimulus control over sex-typed play behaviors was investigated in five boys, aged 5-8 years, who had childhood cross-gender identification. Sex-typed play was found to vary as a function of social stimulus condition and type of response required, but all children exhibited predominantly feminine play while alone in the playroom.…

The computer user has played an active part in uncovering changes brought on with microcomputer technology. Electronic mail (or "E-mail"), which enables users to send and receive messages through bulletin board services ("BBSs"), is often considered one innovation of the computer revolution. A BBS provides opportunities for…

Four major issues are explored in this study of child development research and its implications for children's playgrounds: (1) theories and philosophies of play; (2) the historical evolution of playgrounds; (3) research on child development, play, and playgrounds; and (4) creating playgrounds that meet children's developmental needs. Discussion…

This paper poses three questions about early symbolic or pretend play. (1) How does the child's play differ when the child is alone or with his mother? (2) How does the mother influence her child's play? (3) What are the long-term consequences of joint mother-child play? A study conducted with 32 mother-child pairs equally divided by sex of child…

Viewing computers in various forms as developmentally appropriate objects for children, this discussion provides a framework for integrating conceptions of computers and conceptions of play. Several instances are cited from the literature in which explicit analogies have been made between computers and playthings or play environments.…

The primary aim of this study was to describe prekindergarten children's uses of written language while they were involved in symbolic play. Data were primarily collected by making videotapes of children's spontaneous symbolic play. Videotapes were supplemented by fieldnotes made by the children's teacher. Additionally, children's written language…

The primary aim of this discussion is to demonstrate that social pretend play is a process of negotiation involving children's attempts to reach minimal agreements in order to maintain the play activity. The second purpose is to show that the quality of negotiation changes in content and form as social pretense evolves and that this process is…

In a study of the level, complexity, and initiations of play behavior in 15 handicapped segregated, 15 handicapped mainstreamed, and 15 nonhandicapped mainstreamed preschoolers, Ss were observed during free play. Play levels, according to hierarchies of M. Parten and J. Piaget, as well as the play initiator were recorded every 3 minutes for 90…

To examine the concept of play, a taxonomy of five categories of play was devised and four studies were conducted in an attempt to distinguish among these categories on a motivational and emotional basis. Play is defined as an autotelic, self-rewarding activity. In each of the four studies, undergraduates (total N=520) read a scenario representing…

This article traces the relationship between play and the various stages of human growth: infant, anal-muscular, phallicoedipal, latency, adolescent, and adult development. (CS)