Presents a play tutoring strategy for integrating young developmentally delayed children into play with nondelayed peers. The method used simplifies sociodramatic play through the use of play formats. (RJC)

Examined the stability and circumstances of helping behaviors of 51 children of 41-69 months in a preschool classroom. Frequency of helping behaviors was not correlated with age or sex and was not stable over four 10-minute observation periods. Most helping acts were performed during nonimaginary play. (RJC)

Twenty severely/profoundly hearing-impaired children, aged three-six, interacted with the investigator while playing with toys. A significant relationship was found between imaginative play and language development. No relationship was found between imaginative play and chronological age. Correspondences were found between language development and…

Investigates incidence and type of looking away behaviors of six infants of three-six months. Results suggest that looking away should not be interpreted as a single behavior with a fixed meaning. Types of looking away behavior identified are buffering, distracted-business, and play. (RJC)

The Preschool Play Scale (PPS) and the Preschool Play Materials Preference Inventory were administered to 35 normal preschool boys and 31 with sensory integrative dysfunction (SID). Results indicated no differences in regard to play preference, lower scores for SID boys on the PPS, and no relationship between performance and preference for SID…

Promotes the concept of serious play and discusses its role in learning, from early grades to graduate level. Provides guidelines for integrating serious play across the curriculum and includes sample primary and intermediate grade curriculum charts. (ET)

Observed mothers playing with their 40-month-old children and eliciting their children's memories of shared experiences. Cluster analysis found two distinct maternal interaction styles in each of these contexts. Individual mothers' styles varied across the contexts, suggesting that infant-mother dyads must be observed in multiple contexts to…

Reviews research on gender-role development and discusses the finding that boys and girls are not as different from each other as believed to be. Discusses consequences of gender segregation and why children choose same-sex playmates. Suggests ways to encourage more positive interactions between boys and girls. (BAC)

This study examined the effectiveness of treatment on the development of communicative intent in four young (ages 11 to 13 months) children with cerebral palsy. Treatment sessions included structured communication opportunities and physically facilitated exploration of toys. Results indicated significantly greater use of communicative signals…

Presents findings concerning the role of symbolic play. Assumes that symbolic play has seven functions in the child's development: cognitive, creative, ordering, stimulative, social, expressive, and substitutive. Considers play as a phenomenon that prepares children's abilities through symbolic play. (BAC)

This study, based on a socio-constructivist approach, seeks to help children to develop the cognitive processes of decentration and anticipation. Analysis focuses on observation of children's behavior while playing ball in a group and then on the graphic representation of the actions drawn by the children after each play session. (Author/JKP)

Discusses safety aspects of tree climbing and the use of sand in outdoor play areas at day care centers. Specifies ways to prune trees so that they are unclimbable and methods for maintaining sand areas. Includes a recipe for sand disinfectant. (MDM)

The function of children's imaginary friends was investigated from the perspective of perceived competence. Teachers judged children with imaginary friends to be less competent and socially accepted by peers than other children. Children's descriptions of themselves and their imaginary friends revealed significant gender differences in the types…

Two experiments assessed preschoolers' ability to understand pretend transformations. Subjects were two-, three-, and four-year-olds who viewed episodes in which either one or two similar props were altered in a pretend fashion. In both the single and double transformation, children demonstrated that they could keep track of the pretend…

Highlights key findings described in Barrie Thorne's book, "Gender Play: Girls and Boys in School," which reports research focusing on American children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Indicates that gender segregation starts at birth and that socialization and the environment are the most salient factors in gender segregation. (AC)