Presents salient features of workshop discussion on encouraging social collaboration through play. Main topics covered are: theories and play; play and the curriculum, including evidence that play-based curricula are developmentally appropriate, desirable educational outcomes; and promoting the value of play, including Parten's typology, grouping,…

The Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment--Deaf Model is an assessment process for deaf or hearing impaired children (6 months to 6 years). A team of professionals and parents observes the child during a play session and documents skills and behaviors. The team then uses the accumulated assessment information as a basis for developing…

Highlights a music program for students with deafness that allows them to explore music in ways that are hands-on and visual. The formation of a sign choir that integrated students with deafness and hearing students is also described as well as an interactive deaf/hearing drama group. (CR)

Evaluated the ethological approach in studying children's interactions and play in an Australian preschool. Factor analysis yielded a gender-linked factor loading on looking and playing house, a physical activity factor, and a sociability factor. Findings suggest that though time consuming and labor-intensive, this approach can provide unique…

Examines urban public open spaces used by Pakistani children in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Results reveal that most children visit open spaces on a daily or weekly basis and that parks and playgrounds are preferred. Lists activities engaged in by the majority of children as well as reasons for not undertaking activities. (AIM)

This article reviews literature on the development of children with autism under 3 years. Findings on affective development, sensory processing and attention, praxis and imitation, communication, play, motor features and stereotyped behaviors are discussed, as are interrelationships among these aspects of development. Screening and diagnostic…

Discusses early reading and writing learning as embedded in a larger system of oral communication, and considers the content and valuable dispositions of early literacy instruction. Describes essential early literacy teaching strategies, including rich teacher talk and storybook reading. Includes examples of interactive storybook reading and…

This longitudinal training study explored impact of social scaffolding on emergence of graphic symbol functioning and links among graphic, language, and play domains in symbolic development. Findings support view that graphic symbolic development can be influenced by cultural scaffolding, that more extensive training is needed early rather than…

Investigates the psychometric properties of a Spanish and English version of the Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS) when employed with Spanish- and English-speaking teachers and students. The independent emergence of comparable Spanish and English PIPPS factor structures provides initial support for use of this measure in research with…

Discusses how child caregivers can work with child life specialists to provide appropriate support for children with special health needs in early childhood settings. Describes the impact of chronic illness and hospitalization on infants and toddlers, offers suggestions for helping infants/toddlers and their families cope, focuses on play as a way…

Explores music education within Zimbabwe focusing on the Shona children. Discusses educational research related to cognition. Highlights seven singing games used with Shona children and relates each game to cognitive research. Explains that the research is based upon videotaped sessions of children participating in the games. (CMK)

In this interview with a Florida kindergarten teacher, the whole language philosophy is used to help elementary students learn skills through ongoing reading and writing activities. Thematic units are used to encourage teacher facilitation and peer teaching. (DG)

Six preschool children with moderate mental retardation were placed in dyads to study their reciprocal interactions. Following a teacher-mediated intervention procedure, children displayed noticeable increases in the number and length of interactions during instruction, but generalization to free play varied among participants. (Author/JDD)

Discusses ways to motivate students to learn through the use of textbooks. Suggests several activities designed to increase student motivation and interest. These include presenting textbook topics in the form of games, group work, and performing plays and puppet shows. Emphasizes the importance of coaching and praise. (RW)

Illustrates with one play example, from a five-year study of mentally retarded persons in a state school setting, that the prevailing nature of educational and therapeutic practice needs to be questioned. Identifies the different levels of interpretation and form of analysis in this setting and how each influences the other. (Author/JS)