This study examined the relationship between smile type (basic, Duchenne, duplay) and play type (object, physical, vocal, book reading) during parent-infant videotaped interactions at home. Loglinear analyses revealed that different types of smiles occurred during different types of play more often than expected if distributed equally. Different…

A study examined the effect of visual status (visually impaired or sighted) and setting (indoor or outdoor) on the social behaviors of nine preschoolers with visual impairments and 11 typical preschoolers in an inclusive setting. Regardless of their visual status, the children spent significantly more time near sighted children. (Contains…

Reviews research literature on television's influence on children's fantasy play. Notes evidence that television viewing absorbs time that children would otherwise spend in play and that television's influence on play depends on the types of programs watched. Examines whether television viewing influences fantasy play positively or negatively and…

Discusses preschool education in the People's Republic of China. Describes the developments that have occurred in the last 15 years, such as the effect of the 1 child policy and what parents now expect preschools to emphasize as a result of this policy. Discusses how the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky form the foundations for the preschool…

Presents abstracts of 2 documents and 13 journal articles representing recent research related to the theories of Vygotsky and Piaget in early childhood education settings. Some of the topics include the relationship between proximal development and cooperative learning, scaffolding, sharing books with children, and the importance of make-believe…

Examined parent-child play in 30 4-year-old children with early corrective heart surgery (ECHS) and 30 typically-developing children. Children were compared on basic language measures and proportions of symbolic and nonsymbolic talk. Children with ECHS focused on concrete "here and now" talk and produced less symbolic talk; only one third of the…

Examined European- and Hispanic-American mothers' multimodal communication to their 5- to 30-month-olds while they taught the children target words by using distinct objects during play. Found that mothers used target words more often than nontarget words in synchrony with object motion and sometimes touch, and tailored communication to infants'…

Discusses authentic learning. Investigates semiotic activity in the play activities of 4- to 7-year-old children in Dutch primary schools. Suggests that with some assistance young children can be engaged meaningfully in semiotic activities during play. (CMK)

Discusses the causes of shaken baby syndrome and how to recognize, respond to, and prevent it. Identifies horseplay to avoid and recommends never shaking baby even for apnea. Offers 12 tips for working with crying babies and includes ten discussion questions to test knowledge of the syndrome. (DLH)

Recommends play activities in which children look, listen, taste, smell, and touch. Includes appropriate ages for activities and gives directions for several games, including peek and seek, water play, bean bags, and hot potato. (DLH)

Describes how children's play contributes to brain development. Details the importance of early experience for brain development, arguing that the optimal learning activities to promote brain development are complex, use many senses simultaneously, and are perceived as relevant, useful, emotionally engaging, and novel. Suggests that informal play…

This study examined the peer social behaviors of 38 deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) and 44 hearing children (preschool through grade 1) during free play in small integrated groups. Videotapes were analyzed for peer interaction, play, peer initiations/child responses, and child initiations/peer responses. D/HH and hearing children showed similar…

Discusses the essence of child education in Poland, focusing on preschool education. The concept of the playgroup is examined as a place concerned with providing students with knowledge. An alternative is suggested which which takes into account the child's feelings and relationship with the family and close environment. (JPB)

Proposes that humans may have evolved a special sensitivity to certain types of social information during rough-and-tumble play that facilitates social cognition. Describes the cognitive benefits of physical play as providing a break from demanding intellectual tasks and hypothesizes that physical play is related to gender differences in spatial…

Considers areas of consensus from commentaries, including the value of an evolutionary perspective and the utility of exploring variations in physical activity play. Examines areas of debate, including the nonplay-play distinction, functions of rough-and-tumble play, and the opportunities of juveniles for exercise training. Calls for more directed…