A cross-sectional research study and a longitudinal research study failed to replicate previous research findings that indicated a linear relationship between age and mean length of utterance during the preschool years. Instead, a deceleration in age curves, particularly beyond about 36 months, was observed in each sample. (Author/CB)

The arts do not feature prominently in education systems of such countries as Australia. Yet evidence from a range of sources indicates central importance of the arts to human life. Children exhibit, through play, the essential qualities of the arts, and the arts provide us all (children included) with a means of individual expression and forms of…

This study investigated the hypothesis that children's play styles are influenced by "messages" their parents give from their own leisure. Play styles of 97 preschool children were rated and correlated with each parent's leisure attitudes and preferences. Results are presented. (Author/MT)

An intervention approach emphasizing development of symbolic thought, communication, and interpersonal relationships was implemented with 26 children (ages 2-6) with pervasive developmental disorder, or severe emotional handicaps. Ss demonstrated significant changes in several targeted developmental areas, including cognition, perceptual/fine…

Two autistic children (5 and 13 years old) acquired functional sight-word reading skills in a play activity. Ss gained access to preferred toys by selecting toy labels in tasks requiring increasingly complex visual discriminations. Ss showed comprehension on probes requiring reading skills to locate toys stored in labeled boxes. (Author/CL)

Two nonhandicapped preschoolers were taught strategies thought to facilitate interaction and were prompted to use these strategies during free play with three handicapped (behavior disordered) classmates. The intervention resulted in higher rates of interaction for each of the handicapped children that persisted above baseline levels after teacher…

Explores the benefits and hazards of staging simulated news incidents in the classroom to teach journalism students the need to maintain a professional stance at all times. (HTH)

Suggestions for making and using hand puppets, finger puppets, and shadow puppets are supplemented with ideas for scripts, building a puppet theater, and operating marionnettes. (JW)

Investigates processes that might influence the degree of association between preschoolers' sex-role stereotyped toy choices and their choice of same-sex versus opposite-sex playmates. A total of 51 children in preschool classes for four-year-olds were observed during free play over nine weeks. (Author/RH)

Moral reasoning and cooperative skills of four groups of 56 educable mentally disabled Ss and 56 intellectually average counterparts of the same mental age were examined. Consistent with assumptions of cognitive-developmental theory, both types of Ss showed an increasing tendency to adopt higher levels of moral reasoning as a function of mental…

Compares social and private uses of language in 12 children 23 to 25 months of age. Based on videotapes of children's free play with an adult, results showed that regulatory, attentional, and informative uses of language appeared in speech addressed to another, while self-regulation, description of one's own activity, and expressive functions…

This article gives a brief historical account of the principal rationales of drama in education in England, pursuing the notion of distortion of the nature of drama itself. By looking at past mistakes, we may better assess the place of drama in today's curriculum. (MT)

Reports research findings on the relationship between play and science as complementary aspects of problem solving. The playful approach and the science approach are compared along with skills and attitudes necessary for solving scientific problems. Research findings and suggested actions on play in the classroom are summarized. (BC)

Explores three dimensions of change in play therapy. Actual case material is used to examine the role of pivots as windows of change in the helping process. Argues that the pivoting function may serve as a universe for change which allows us to focus more intently on therapeutic events. (Author/ABB)

Discusses children's imaginary companions as a part of human development that adults should strive to understand. (BJD)