Examines the effect of an unfamiliar peer in a situation requiring a subject's separation from mother in order to play with attractive toys. Observation of 20 children 18 months old and 20 children 30 months old revealed that peer presence facilitated initial separation for both ages, but that age differences in subsequent behaviors existed. (CB)

Organized recreation has become competitive and overstructured in today's society. Children are pushed into many activities where they must excel rather than simply enjoy. Recreation professionals can reexamine agency priorities to help ensure that play is satisfying for children. (DF)

By allowing college students of German to write and perform their own plays, it added a tremendous boost to their interest in speaking a foreign language. This motivated them to do what they would ordinarily have done with great reluctance--memorize a text and engage in an intensive, goal-oriented activity in German, outside the language…

Language delay became increasingly apparent with age, and more so in boys than in girls. There was no significant difference between mental ages derived from standard ability tests and corresponding age equivalent scores of a symbolic play test. A developmental progression of play similar to that seen in non-handicapped groups was found. (RH)

Explored the role of clothing in sex-role socialization by comparing stereotypic clothing-play cognitions with overt play behavior relative to dress. A multi-method approach, including observations and interviews, was used to study the behavior and cognitions of 39 preschool girls. (Author/DST)

Focuses on environmental influences on variations in infants' exploratory behavior, the stability of these differences, and the relation between differences in exploratory play and later cognitive development. (AS)

Argues that schools are alien to human juveniles'"normal" ways of learning. Sees return to more "normal ways" because of near 100 percent literacy in West (so children can "pick up" necessary skills), counterproductivity of current social segregation of the young, and rejection of docility as an appropriate educational goal. (CMG)

Systematic sampling was done of signing between five home-reared chimpanzees who had had 4-7 years of complete immersion in integrating their signing interaction into their nonverbal communication. Eight-eight percent of all signs reported fell into the social categories of reassurance, social interaction, and play. (SL)

According a more important role in the socialization process to the games children play, this study examines sex differences in childrens' playtime activities. A large body of new empirical data on fifth grade school children suggests that play and games equip boys with the social skills needed for occupational careers while equipping girls with…

Discusses the vital importance of the preschool period in educational terms and maintains that early influences are much more effective than later experience; one cannot look upon nursery schools as merely child care services. (MS)

Upon reviewing recent research on early appearing sex differences the author concludes that stereotypic expectations elicit differential early behaviors. These account for cognitive and personality differences which lead to fulfillment of different roles in adulthood. (MS)

Play therapy acts as a medium of expression for children. The purpose of this article is to outline a methodological approach as well as to emphasize the necessity of including the parent in the play therapy situation. (Author)

Compares the game playing behavior of sixth-grade boys in free play in school yards and in formal physical education periods. The author concludes that play in the peer group context develops an egalitarian and consensual model concerned with means and that play in the adult-structured context fosters an authoritarian model concerned with ends.…

Suggests ways in which the schools and universities can confront the psychological and social impact of television on children. (Author/IRT)

A practical new text with ideas that can immediately be put to use in the classroom. This book goes beyond a thematic link between reading and music to an examination of those skills that are directly parallel in music learning and text reading. Including instructional examples, it provides specific strategies for music and reading teachers to…