A study compared the play interaction of four parents with infants with visual impairments, four parents with infants with hearing impairments, and four parents with normal infants. Findings showed parents developed exchange routines that matched the developmental and sensory status of their infants. Interventions for play interaction are…

Overviews some of the latest predictable books for emergent readers, this month looking at books that develop a sense of rhythm and books that entice children to play with words. Offers suggestions for using these 12 books in the classroom. (SR)

Discusses the links between emotional development and pretend play in young children using basic foundations of psychoanalytic and learning theories. Explains emotional development and pretend play through interactive levels of expression, control and modeling of emotion, and emotional intelligence. (JPB)

Relationships between pretend play and word production were investigated in 10 hearing toddlers and 10 toddlers with hearing loss who attended an auditory/oral early intervention program. Results showed significantly higher levels of pretend play for the hearing children and an association between level of pretend play and word production for the…

This case study traces responses of one child to a program of music experiences implemented in the toddler playroom of a day care center for 10 months. The program used three types of music experience: free music play, sociable music experiences, and music incorporated into caregiving routines. Findings highlight how music activities can enhance a…

Describes experiences with hospitalized children through the extension project "Writing and Reading at the University Hospital", State University of Maringa Hospital (Brazil). States the initial project proposal provided educational assistance to the children separated from school due to being in the hospital. Used play and games as an…

The internal reliability and concurrent validity of the Play Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) was compared to that of the Minnesota Child Development Inventory with 170 deaf or hard of hearing infants and toddlers. The PAQ was found to be a useful nonverbal tool that assesses symbolic play behaviors and demonstrates a parallel development with…

Proposes that children can achieve personal growth, healing and alleviation off their emotional pain through play therapy and the therapeutic use of stories. Explores the healing process of a six-year-old boy whose family lifestyle and structured school environment presented more anxiety than he could cope with effectively. (Author/GCP)

A teacher of young children with visual impairments in a resource room program recounts how yo-yos became a bridge to development of social skills and friendships both within the group and with other students in the school. (DB)

Describes a drama lesson in which a class of grade-one students spent one and a half hours engaged with second-year elementary education student teachers. Illustrates the power of drama to deeply engage students in a range of language arts activities. (SR)

A study of developmentally matched children with autism (n=9), with Down syndrome (n=9), and typical peers (n=9) investigated play abilities. Although it was possible to distinguish the pattern of play behaviors of children with autism from the other two groups, symbolic play skills were not totally absent. (Author/CR)

Investigated from a dynamic systems perspective mutual regulation during naturalistic interaction of mothers with their 4-month-olds. Found that mothers and infants communicated primarily through vocal signals and responses. Levels of contingent responsiveness between partners were significantly associated and occurred within distinct behavioral…

Child's play may be at risk in today's technologically-oriented society. The limited interactive capacities of high-tech toys constrain the possibilities for cognitive development, interpersonal learning, and the quality of relationships that can be formed. Current high-tech toys change the nature of play, so that the object, rather than the…

Describes the wave of new technology-enhanced "smart toys," ranging from simple interactive toys to those simulating actions of real animals. Notes the lack of research on the effects of these toys on children's brain organization, learning, or behavior. Describes impact of various software programs on children's learning, discussing…

Maintains that the primary contribution of Wolfberg's book is its integration of various research literatures and its rich case studies, though its noncritical stance toward prevailing diagnostic paradigms for autism might be a shortcoming. Suggests that the book's reference to developmental stages is remarkably traditional for a text that…