In an effort to clarify some of the problems educators have in understanding children's play behavior, a half-hour-long episode of two 4-year-old girls playing with newsprint, paints, and brushes at an easel is described. The episode showed how ephemeral yet recognizable play can be. The idea of countours is used to describe play behavior in its…

Questions concerning the ontogeny of the planning process and its role in the regulation of behavior have been markedly absent from the literature. The present study examines the planning done during solitary play by middle-class children from four public nursery schools in Athens, Greece. One hundred preschool children in five age groups (42, 48,…

The primary purpose of this study was to compare, from a social/cognitive perspective, computer free play with more traditional preschool free play. Secondary objectives were to find out whether there were gender differences in the duration and type of computer play and whether receptive language differences or sociometric status affected the use…

The purpose of this study was to describe preschool teachers' interventions during children's free play. A Weberian sociological framework was used to examine (1) what happens when teachers intervene into children's play, (2) teachers' beliefs and thus their decisions about play, and (3) the relationship between these issues. Three preschool…

This book describes 21 toys that were designed to stimulate development in low birthweight babies, ages 0-3, and can be made from basic materials found in the home. Step-by-step instructions are given for each toy along with a list of necessary supplies. Illustrations and/or patterns are provided as needed. Each entry includes suggestions for…

Effects of age and gender of preschool children and sex of parent on parental teaching strategies in a fantasy play situation were examined. Relations of parental strategies to children's fantasy play were assessed. Play sessions were held in a small playroom equipped with materials which facilitated dramatic production. The linguistic strategies…

Reinforcing contact with toys by providing chocolate milk odors, and tactile reinforcement helped to reduce the self injurious behaviors, feces smearing, and destructive behavior of a profoundly retarded deaf/blind hyperactive female. The underlying assumption of the approach was that increasing toy contact would result in improved alternative…

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis (derived from Piaget's theory of cognitive development) that the structure of children's drawings and play-constructions, being expressions of the same underlying function, should be similar. Two groups of 4- and 6-year-old nursery school children were given a testing task consisting of an orally…

Article investigated the process of play and its relation to creative ability. (RK)

Urges the use of plays as a means of practicing English; however, the play should be chosen to suit the players. (LG)

describes a program in which junior high school students learned about child development and young children by studying theories of child development, observing preschool children, and working with them in a nursery school setting. (ST)

In order to specify the factor structure and stability of infant and maternal behavior, mother/infant interaction was observed when infants were 12 and 24 months of age. Mothers and infants observed in dyadic interaction in a playroom during a 15-minute free play period represented a heterogeneous sample across gender, socioeconomic status, and…

Fingerplays are enjoyable and versatile additions to program activities and can provide an informal opportunity to practice manipulative and coordination skills. As an instructional supplement in a variety of content areas, this form of dramatic play fosters the development of intellectual and language skills. Caregivers of young children often…

This bilingual publication deals with the characteristics of the young child, the importance of play to the development of the young child and the design criteria for play spaces that cater to the preschooler's special needs. Included are detailed suggestions regarding location and features that encourage various types of play. The relationship…

This book is a compilation of 100 learning games for infants from birth to 6 months of developmental age. Most of the learning games involve infant-adult interaction and are for either parents or child care professionals. Each game is presented on a double-page spread so that it may be found quickly and used easily. The description of each game…