Children enmeshed in violence don't experience a relaxed, predictable, or trusting home life. In fact, children exposed to home violence often experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) just as adults do after enduring violence. Domestic violence robs children of their childhood. And while early childhood staff can't erase the…

The early gender bias experiences that children encounter can shape their attitudes and beliefs related to their development of interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships, access to education equality, participation in the corporate work world, as well as stifling their physical and psychological well being. For early childhood educators, being…

This study was designed to examine the effects of tracing and fading prompts to improve the handwriting of two preschoolers both diagnosed as Developmentally Delayed (DD) and one of whom had fine motor goals. The study took place in a self-contained special education public preschool classroom located in the Pacific Northwest. The results showed…

War play is play with a toy that initiates violence or play that involves the imitation of war. War play can involve: (1) the use of toys based on television cartoon shows to imitate the action in the cartoons; (2) play with replicas of war paraphernalia or manipulatives shaped into guns; and (3) dramatic play. The negative effects on children…

Twelve boys (24-30 months old) with specific expressive language delay (SELD) and with normal development in every other sphere were identified for longitudinal study. Children were videotaped while playing. Analysis using an ordinal play coding scheme revealed strikingly poor pretend play skills. They appeared deficient in either the ability or…

Two major questions were explored by this study: "Will the use of socio-dramatic play increase the use of language?" and, "Will the use of language in fantasy play transfer to a cognitive task?" Results affirmatively answer these questions. (Author)

Describes a program which was designed to encourage childern with cleft palates to verbalize experiences through creative dramatics. (SET)

Relationships between kindergarteners' symbolic functioning in free play, selected demographic variables (sex, age, and socioeconomic status), and the children's ability to generate isolated written words were investigated. Sixty-five kindergarteners (37 male, 28 female) were tested and observed in their classes over a 4-week period. Play was…

Piaget's early contribution to theorizing about play is discussed critically with reference to three major interrelated problems. These are: (1) that despite their equipotentiality in Piaget's theory of intelligence, imitation and play are not conceptualized as making an equal contribution to cognition, play taking a subordinate role; (2) that…

In this paper, the authors systemize the complex phenomenon known as pretend or make-believe play, defined as involving some transformation of the here and now in which the child is actually situated. Observations were made of three age groupings of dyads of middle class nursery school children. The activity of a pair of children, alone in a…

A total of 146 disadvantaged preschool children were trained in 1 of 3 different types of fantasy activities. The effects of this training were evaluated over a variety of tasks measuring cognitive development and impulse control. (Author/JMB)

Examines reasons children find superhero play so attractive and discusses how it relates to children's development. Also makes a case for allowing superhero play and suggests strategies to make such play a constructive experience for children. (KS)

Describes an exploratory study in which alternative dramatic play areas are compared among older preschoolers. Twelve children, grouped into same-sex pairs (55 to 67 months old), were observed in various playroom environments. Results indicate that theme specific settings stimulated dramatic play while neutral areas encouraged personal fantasy…

Learning through play is as natural and important for young children as breathing. With this book, parents and teachers can create toys that help children become more confident, develop their intellect, and encourage play and exploration--all with materials easily found at the local hardware store or home center. Written by two experienced family…

Emphasizes the importance of spontaneous play for growth in cognition and social values. The author specifically discusses finger painting, water, blocks and dramatic play. (AJ)