The purpose of this study was to investigate the alternative forms of young children's help-seeking in free play and problem-solving contexts. A total of 72 children aged 18 (N=36) and 24 (N=36) months were observed in pairs in free play and problem-solving settings, as well as in different social contexts--same-age versus mixed-age pairing. Both…

The proliferation of microcomputers in early childhood education has raised concerns about the computer's effects on the preschool curriculum. Of particular concern is the possibility that children will interact with the computer to the exclusion of other important activities. To examine this issue, a two-study project investigated children's…

A study examined two questions: What are the common functions and features of literacy as evidenced in children's spontaneous play within a preschool setting, and how frequently do they occur across different groups of preschoolers? Trained observers recorded the play behavior of each of 50 children (the average age was 4 years) during four…

Intended for teachers who have no particular experience or training in teaching theater, but who have a love of theater and enjoy a good play, this book discusses making theater with children. It explores improvisation, reading and acting with scripts, adapting plays for young actors, and writing plays. The examples presented in the text are…

Improvisation can show teachers ways to use the senses to make ideas, emotions, or any academic lesson stick with a child. By using improvisational techniques, the teacher asks the student to play--to be active and to discover. For example, there are games to help the child to concentrate, verbalize, touch and make contact with other children, and…

The widespread assumption that play enhances the quality of children's lives is investigated in this paper. Theorists and rsearchers have given the word "play" definitions which emphasize (1) its complexity and degree of approximaton of the adult world, (2) initial conditions and themes and motives that characterize the realization of…

Meta-analyses of the hypotheses that relationships exist between play and problem solving, and between play and creativity, were conducted. The data set for the meta-analyses included studies designed to investigate the relationship between play and fluency or originality, or between play and problem-solving behavior. The meta-analyses of…

The purposes of this study were to investigate (1) the level of development of four target vocal and gestural symbols (Doggie, Cup, Car, and Fiffin, a novel concept), and (2) the relationship of symbolic maturity to the use of symbols in combinations. Thirty infants (15 boys and 15 girls), between 82 and 91 weeks of age, were observed for…

A study was undertaken in order to examine (1) the nature of the representation or prototypes underlying children's make-believe object uses, (2) the types of mental activities through which objects are allowed to substitute for real objects, and (3) the awareness children have of processes involved in their choosing and pretending. A total of 18…

Dramatic activities, tasks that unite language learning with bodily movements, voice intonation, emotion, and imagination, may be eased into the traditional classroom structure to enrich and enhance the intellectual aspects of language learning and to motivate students. These activities can be modified to meet the needs and difficulty levels of…

Five deaf infants with hearing parents enrolled in a parent-infant intervention program using total communication were videotaped during free play sessions with their parents. Videotapes of each child at program entry and program exit were analyzed. The functions of children's gestures, pointing responses, communicative vocalizations, and signs…

In this study, 33 hearing and 29 deaf preschoolers were observed during outdoor free play at their respective schools over a seven-month period in an effort to determine if their friendships were unstable and transitory. Four issues were addressed: (1) the possibility that maintained and non-maintained friends serve different functions (this was…

This article outlines key characteristics of Singapore's national values and the preschool education context, and provides a discussion of what the spirit of play could be like in Singaporean preschools. The article uses Deweyan principles to advocate for socially just curricula in Singaporean preschools that embrace "play" as a vehicle…

Author takes an unromantic look at the real possibilities of making industrial work more satisfying. (Editor/RK)

Discusses the problems encountered when counseling a student who does not wish to talk. Suggests that counselors have many objects about office, including games, on which students can focus attention to facilitate movement from nonverbal to verbal. A case study is included. (Author/HMV)