Deals with a cognitive-developmental approach of children's understanding and expression of their emotions. A technique that has emerged in the context of a recent play therapy case with a six-year-old girl is presented. This technique seems to hold promise for facilitating the young child's understanding and expression of polarized feelings.…

This study focused on the kinds of cognitive behaviors preschool and kindergarten children engage in while playing in a solitary, parallel, associative or cooperative manner. The effects of socio-economic status, developmental level, and the use of specific materials on social and cognitive levels of play are discussed. (BD)

The Early Intervention Effectiveness Institute established by Utah State University will increase the knowledge base concerning efficacy of various types of early intervention with handicapped children. Let's Play to Grow is a recreation and support program for disabled children and their families with approximately 200 clubs and 6,000 members…

Discusses the history and theory of drama therapy and illustrates it through case studies. Makes suggestions for counselors who wish to use drama to promote psychological development. Notes that using dramatic activities allows counselors to view the inner world of their clients through symbolization, characterization, and interaction. (ABB)

The article explores the use of drama in counseling gifted, creative, and talented students. Five constituent instruments (stage, subject, director, auxiliary egos, audience) in the psychodramatic method are described as well as the four techniques (double ego, mirror technique, role reversal, soliloquy technique) basic to the psychotherapy…

Evaluation of a peer-mediated intervention which promoted communicative interaction by handicapped preschoolers through the teaching of facilitative strategies to three handicapped and three nonhandicapped students revealed increases in response rates of handicapped subjects during free play and maintenance (without initial prompting) of peer…

Analysis of two- to five-year-olds' (N=26) responses to queries regarding utterances they made during free play indicated that social context interacted with response type, demonstrating that the initial utterance had a role in response determination and was important to the contingent query sequence. (Author/CB)

Presents anecdotes from nursery school daily records which illustrate significant learning experience through cooperative work and play. Suggests that children process and learn information by playing with that information. (NH)

The effectiveness of two workshops provided for teachers and aides in a day care center was studied. Training was effective in increasing caregiver verbal involvement with children during play, but was less effective in reducing the number of verbal directives delivered by caregivers to children. (PCB)

Toronto's Sexual Abuse Treatment Project (SATP) is described. Results of the evaluation of the first 18 months of the program are reported. The role of a specialized sexual abuse therapy program within a child welfare setting is discussed. (Author/BN)

Contrasts effects of developmental characteristics of peer interaction partners on three preadolescent students with severe developmental disabilities observed while playing with (1) children of similar age and comparable diagnosis, (2) nondisabled children of similar age, and (3) chronologically younger but developmentally similar nondisabled…

Describes historical background of the "Living Newspaper" theater, the procedure in using the genre as a classroom activity, and the evaluation of the activity for student learning. Presents an example of play design and an observation-debriefing form, concluding that this medium stimulates student curiosity about the past and may be…

Compares patterns of play and serious aggression in three- to eight-year-old children of two neighboring Zapotec Indian communities that have different levels of adult violence. Results suggest that community differences in violence levels are perpetuated as Zapotec children learn community-appropriate patterns to express aggression and continue…

Techniques for modifying toys for children with cerebral palsy to enhance active, independent use of play materials are described. The most successful techniques include stabilization; creating boundaries; and use of grasping aids, manipulation aids, and switches. Good positioning is emphasized to maximize controlled and relaxed movement and…

Summarizes data on developmental patterns in constructive play--play in which children use play materials to make something. Reviews knowledge about developmental correlates and effects of constructive play behavior and examines methodological and theoretical issues. (NH)