Not long ago, both city and country children grew up mostly outdoors, with direct experience of plants and animals and of the ways in which the necessities of daily life were grown, made, and used. When they weren't helping with household work, children spent much of their time exploring and puttering around in the outdoor environment, relatively…

Extensive empirical research has documented the value of play for both cognitive and social development. In this collection, leading experts in play research, child development, and early childhood education examine recent policy decisions and demonstrate the importance of play in helping children learn basic literacy skills, social awareness,…

The information in this booklet is intended to respond to common questions and concerns heard from parents of about-to-be kindergartners. It is based on research about the growth, development, and learning of young children and about the kinds of learning experiences that are most likely to promote their success in school and beyond. Topics…

Presenting an integrative model for treating traumatized children, this book combines play, art, and other expressive therapies with ideas and strategies drawn from cognitive-behavioral and family therapy. Eliana Gil demonstrates how to tailor treatment to the needs of each child by using both directive and nondirective approaches. Throughout,…

Dialogical drama with puppets is a specific method of revealing basic cultural values for preschool children. For this study, an interactive performance of a puppet show for young children was videotaped, along with a later performance of the same show by the children. The study compared the techniques used by the adult performers and the children…

Noting an increasing consensus that meeting care and education goals for infants and toddlers is a societal as well as a family responsibility, this book provides an "educare" curriculum for infants and toddlers, emphasizing both education and care perspectives. Part 1 of the book provides basic principles of good infant and toddler…

Many caregivers doubt their ability to provide appropriate play experiences for children with special needs included in their program because some children with disabilities may not have the ability to interact and manipulate toys in a meaningful way. This paper provides guidance in appropriately adapting toys and the play situation to allow many…

Distributed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services, this pamphlet provides parents with information and advice about their infants in the fifth month of life. Following a brief description of developmental characteristics at this age, the pamphlet offers information on topics including infant medicines,…

Based on the view that almost every interaction a parent has with an infant is an opportunity to help the baby learn more about the world, this book provides parents with simple and effective ways to enrich their infant's environment and to boost their childs language, motor, and social skills. Introductory remarks describe the learning areas…

This book offers information and insights for university dance educators and their students, administrators, policy makers, parents, dance instructors, dancers, and dance enthusiasts. Part 1, "Understanding Dance Education," explains key features of the discipline of dance and how it is a performing, liberal, physical, and applied art. Its four…

This study examined the impact of a multicultural preschool curriculum in Slovenia on preschool children's sensitization to cultural differences and understanding of themselves, others, and different cultures. The curriculum was implemented for a 1-month period for 6.6- to 7-year-olds. Multicultural enrichment was evident in wall decorations, toys…

The school yard has been one of the least utilized of our educational resources. Surfaced with a view to his convenience and used mostly in accordance with his desires, it has practically belonged to the janitor. In the past 10 years the great play movement has burst upon us and has brought with it an illumination as to the educational value of…

For the first time, American people, released from the strain of the physical building and equipping of a country during which work was our doctrine and gospel, are summoned to discover the meaning of the word "recreation" and translate its spirit into practice. Through this great movement toward the use of leisure time, bringing play to people of…

Under Hitler, art and drama were controlled in order to serve propaganda purposes exclusively, while under the New Deal the United States succeeded in giving work to artists and writers without controlling their output. Suggests class activities to help students gain understanding of this era. (CS)

A study was done to compare humor development in preschool children from poor Black, poor Mexican American, and middle class White racial-ethnic groups. Results suggest that, while the White group was different in the usage of verbal humor, the three groups did not differ markedly in their overall sense of humor. (JN)