Learning through the arts has the potential to stimulate open ended activity that encourages discovery, exploration, experimentation and invention, thus contributing to children's development in all areas of learning and helping to make the curriculum meaningful to them. In this book, the author draws on her extensive experience of promoting young…

Two studies examined the ability of a peer play scale, based on the Howes Peer Play Scale, to assess developmental sequences in children's play with peers from the infant through the preschool periods. The frequency and proportion of play forms, and the ages at which they emerged, varied as a function of the children's child care setting. (LB)

Describes a block play activity undertaken in a kindergarten through second-grade multiage classroom, in which children used blocks and various other props to construct and operate an imaginary snack shop. Discusses the benefits of block play and guidelines for teachers to follow in establishing block play activities. (MDM)

The patterns of cognitive play of 28 African-American and Euro-American preschool children with intellectual disabilities are reported. Fourteen children representing each group, matched on developmental age and family variables, were observed playing independently at home. The pattern of African-American children's play was more reflective of…

A study of Kagan's peer play situation for measuring heritable influences on children's behavioral inhibition (that is, shyness) drew its data from the large, multimethod, multivariate MacArthur Longitudinal Twin Study. The MacArthur study examined behavioral inhibition across four ages and two situations, looking for possible sex differences and…

Urban streets can be turned into recreational facilities for neighborhood populations by closing them to vehicular traffic during certain hours. (RC)

This research attempted to answer the question of why play is enjoyable and drew on the personal experiences of a variety of people for its conclusions. (RK)

Describes an early childhood education course project in which students participated in developing, organizing, and conducting a play group, one day a week, for two- to five-year-old children and their parents. (Author/SDH)

This article describes play activities of children from birth to age 10 from the internalist's viewpoint. (PD)

This study investigated the prediction that playful activity would increase the number of alternate uses that children would be able to give for objects which are not involved in that activity. Subjects were 36 white, middle-class preschoolers. (Author/SDH)

This paper addresses the current abandonment of children's free play--a proven, broad-based, indispensable learning experience--in favor of formal learning and instruction. Educational research has found that play is the natural learning medium of children, yet this understanding is not guiding educators' practice. This condition has caused many…

Two studies were conducted with normal preschool and retarded children to examine D. El'konin's theory that condensation of play activity occurs when social human relationships are reproduced in role play. Two types of condensation were hypothesized: reduction of repetition in a manipulation or in a small unit of sequential manipulations, and…