Firstborn children's reaction to sibling birth assessed in 41 families via family interviews at 1 month prepartum and 1, 4, 8, and 12 months postpartum. Familial interaction patterns were observed in semistructured play sessions. Time since the birth of the sibling and sibling gender had significant effects on firstborn children's adjustment.…

Presents a rationale for viewing theatre as a form of education, and looks at several different ideas for why and how drama should be taught; considers what types of skills children should acquire from a theatre class, and whether drama should focus on the internal, subjective experience of theatre, or the external mechanics of it. (JC)

A case study is presented of a three-year-old girl who exhibited aggression towards other children when playing. A behavior management program involving praise and rewards for good behavior and negative consequences for misbehavior was successful in reducing the behavior problem. Cooperative behavior was maintained even when tangible rewards were…

A study investigated the symbolic play development and mother-child interactions between toddlers and their adolescent or mentally retarded mothers. Differences in maternal behaviors were found between the not-at-risk control group and the mentally retarded and adolescent mothers. (JOW)

Board games parents may use to improve their child's basic skills in reading, math, spelling, and reasoning are reviewed. The article describes eight games along with suggestions about how each game may be used to improve skills. Suggested ages and manufacturer of each game are listed. (JL)

Assumptions were made that children differ in production of imaginative behavior and speech-to-self or private speech. Three-, four-, and five-year-old children were observed with fantasy materials. Verbal fantasy play was assessed in relation to other individual characteristics of children. Results are reported. (JS)

Study recorded the ongoing verbal and nonverbal behavior of 156 preschool children (M age=51.1 months) as they played, in dyads, during 78 cooperation episodes. The results are discussed in terms of the motivational and organizational role of both transient and enduring affective states during cooperation episodes. (Author/RWB)

Observation of eight-month-olds (N=7) during isolated free play session with three toys revealed that significantly more vocalizations were present during transition periods where changes from locus of attention and changes in facial expression occurred. (Author/CB)

Preschool children observed during periods of free play were assessed on two measures: Parten Scale for social participation and teachers' rating of children's social behavior. Discussion of results includes implications of relationship of positive and negative behaviors, inverse relationship between teacher-directed and group positive behaviors,…

This article presents a broad ranging philosophical and theoretical argument for improving the education of young children through a greater understanding of developmental child psychology. Notes that play is essential for individual mental development, and must be used in educational settings. Maintains that pure scientific research is simply a…

Presents a conversational analysis of children's re-created play episodes drawn from a larger study of children's dramatic play and its re-creation through teacher-led discussions. The analysis provides an empirical framework by which educators may reflect upon the utility and appropriateness of this practice. (Author/MS)

Children's instructional play and adults' self-education are activities characterized by learning without conventional teaching and by interactional variables. Because both child and adult perceive that they have learned "on their own," play as a form of "curriculum" may serve as an important simulation for later, self-directed…

A sibling training procedure consisting of direct prompting and modeling across three pairs of siblings revealed that direct prompting was effective for increasing reciprocal interactions between severely retarded and nonhandicapped siblings and increasing levels of initiations and responsiveness to initiations. (CL)

Ways in which creative dialogue fosters the development of creativity through expressive language and motor movements are described. Procedures are outlined for generating creative dialogue with children ages 3-5 through the observation component (observing, interviewing, transcribing), and with children ages 6-8 through the language development…

Examines the connection between children's own storying in play and the narrative fictions offered them in children's literature. (HOD)