The nature of early games and how they might assist the infant in language acquisition were explored in a longitudinal study of two mother-infant dyads, using video-recordings of their free play. The analysis of appearance and disappearance games was particularly revealing. (EJS)

Describes how the students of physics and drama have cooperated in an interdisciplinary project to produce a play, "The Physicists," in a high school. The purpose of the play is to promote artistic and analytical thinking. (GA)

Because they are such effective teaching resources, puppets are an economical and exciting resource for increasing numbers of teachers involved in courses on death education. Puppets help students overcome emotional problems, and, since death is a traumatic area to explore, they provide opportunities to work through social situations not yet…

This study reveals significant differences in the organization of play between the sexes. The primary difference concerns the complexity of the social setting in which play occurs. (Author/AM)

While the elements of enjoyment, creativity, and pleasure are present in the learning process, education is basically work, and despite its joyful aspects, it is sometimes drudgery. (JD)

Excerpts from observational diaries kept by education students acting as anthropologists studying the conceptual tools of young children at home and in school. Notes describe children's rules for activities and games; individual projects; and reactions to social studies concepts presented from an "adultcentric" point of view. (AV)

Gives reasons why playtime is important to children's basic skills development. (RL)

Cites studies and three illustrative cases showing benefits to a reading program which can be derived from creative dramatics activities. Discusses materials and supplies, physical arrangement and management techniques for a creative dramatics learning center. (BR)

Creating and organizing their own games helps children to understand and appreciate the importance of cooperation, team play, and adherence to game rules. (JD)

The relation of amount of adult-directed activity to children's social, play, and task behaviors was examined for 141 children in 13 Head Start classes. (JMB)

Explored infants' capability to request a partner's participation in social games. Nineteen infants who were 9, 12, 15, and 18 months old played games for 30 minutes in a laboratory setting with an adult partner. Children's nonverbal behavior and vocalizations after the adult discontinued play were compared with behavior during game-playing…

Play interactions between six male autistic children (aged 8 to 12 years), younger normally developing kindergarten children, and nonhandicapped same-age peers resulted in gains for all (subjects were only those autistic children (6) observed; their autistic classmates were not observed) subjects in proximity, orientation, and responsiveness when…

Examined spontaneous communicative acts (requests for information, calls for attention, intention statements, etc.) of a group of young second-language learners and their native-speaker interlocutors in three play situations. Results showed that, while the response rate to some types of utterances was predictable, others did not generate the…

Discusses major issues related to youth sport including definition of terms, development of motor skills, and relationship of physical activity to other aspects of development and to sex roles. Practical suggestions for the classroom teacher are presented to help them prepare children for an active and healthy life. (AS)