Argues for a less rigid conception of leisure. Describes how leisure has been socially constructed and how the concept is changing in postmodern consumer culture. Suggests that adult education discourse neglects consumer culture and leisure, thus ignoring part of adults' everyday existence. (SK)

Offers suggestions for facilitating infant play for the following age groups: birth to 4 months, 4 to 8 months, 8 to 12 months, and 12 to 18 months. Suggestions cover play materials and some activities. (KB)

Presents a dramatization of a fictitious debate about the age of the earth that takes place at the Royal Institution, London, England, in the year 1872 among Sir William Thomson, T.H. Huxley, Sir Charles Lyell, and Hermann von Helmholtz. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/YDS)

Two observations, one of a toddler mastering a skill and one of a group of children playing, show how imitation and variation are interwoven in the strategies for learning used by children. Imitation is an entrance into learning, and variation gives insight into the cognitive world of young children. (SLD)

Illustrates a variety of play responses that emerged spontaneously in the days following the September 11 attacks, asserting that although this event is similar to other tragedies, it is unique in U.S. history and has affected children intensely. Contrasts the complexities of the healing process of play with the official responses of the…

Studied developmental changes in the relationship between 43 sibling pairs when the second child was 24 and 36 months old. Dyadic measures of sibling interaction showed little change over time, whereas individual measures of behavior showed changes in the nature of interactions consistent with developments in the younger child. (RJC)

Three cases of child sexual abuse by child perpetrators are presented showing that sexual abuse of a child by a child may result in the victim becoming a perpetrator. Sexual play between children requires attention to determine whether it is abusive, imitated from prior experience, and potentially transmissible to other children. (Author/DB)

Presents arguments based on the writings of John Dewey which offer support for the continued use of computers in classrooms. Topics discussed include a philosophy for computers in education; the meanings and values of tools, including meaning as a social construct; and imagination and play. (Contains four references.) (LRW)

Reviews research on the use of play as a therapeutic technique. Discusses the purpose and use of play therapy in classrooms, types of play therapy techniques, and the value of collaboration between parents, teachers, and therapists. Recommends monitoring the play of traumatized children, noting that reenacting traumatic events is an essential part…

Examines a classic text, Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses," within the context of several of Stevenson's own essays. Suggests that unlike many children's books, it was an experiment and one that Stevenson, for various reasons, including his premature death, was never able to adapt for future use. (RS)

Provides an overview of the preceding articles in this journal issue. Considers the timing of gender segregation, compatibility between play styles and gender segregation, possible physiological processes underlying gender segregation in play, children's cognitive knowledge about gender, and the consequences of gender segregation. (BAC)

Developed intervention to decrease number of inappropriate activity changes in Head Start classroom. Measurement of rate of activity changes was taken for two target children and comparison children. Intervention was able to reduce inappropriate activity changes by adding relatively unobtrusive classroom structure to activities. (Author/NB)

Details instructions for four cooperative games primarily for young children. The games are of low to moderate activity level and involve partners or a group circle. Descriptions include variations of the game and helpful hints for making the game more successful. (KS)

Children used more complex forms of symbolic play when they played with their mothers than when they were engaged in solitary play. The role of active partnership in symbolic play development is discussed. (RH)

Examines the nature of literate behavior in the pretend play episodes of eight preschoolers. A taxonomy of pretend play activity is described and analyzed based on the findings. Relationships between different kinds of pretend play activity and their effect on emergent literacy development are examined in light of the taxonomy and other research.…