Definitions are offered to distinguish natural play from educational play, which is linked to predictable and specific learning experiences for the players. (GW)

All play activity has an aesthetic dimension that is itself beautiful, or is done in pursuit of the beautiful. (RC)

Describes research on procedures implemented to increase the social play of handicapped preschool children. The use of nonhandicapped children as models increased quantity and quality of play in the target population. (DP)

A club for mothers and their young children is discussed. (CK)

The study assessed free play and response to modeled symbolic play with animate toys and realistic and substitute accessories in 10 autistic children, 10 Down's syndrome, and 10 normal preschooler controls. Findings suggested impaired imitative capacity and symbolic functioning in autism. (Author)

This study demonstrates that children who use playgrounds in the northern suburbs of Detroit are exposed to a variety of safety hazards. During the course of the study, a total of 474 separate hazards were identified. Recommends that reasonable standards should be mandated and enforced. (LZ)

Analyzes key assumptions behind Vygotsky's writing on children's play. Argues that Vygotsky's writings about play do not constitute a psychological theory, and would be better acknowledged as part of the historical evolution of ideas about children's play. Maintains that theoretical significance of Vygotsky's opinion about play can be questioned…

We evaluated a program for increasing pretend toy play of 2-year-old children with disabilities in an inclusive classroom. Classroom personnel implemented the program, which involved choices of classroom centers containing toys that tend to occasion pretend play in toddlers without disabilities, along with prompting and praise. Increases occurred…

The main objective of this study is to illustrate how adaptation to linguistic limitations takes place in a specific activity and is affected by factors pertaining to the social activity or the individuals. A man with aphasia is compared to an adult immigrant L2 learner. An argumentative role play was video-recorded, transcribed and analysed. Both…

In their everyday lives, children largely stay within and relate to three settings - their homes, schools and recreational institutions. These environments have been created by adults and designated by them as "places for children". A more differentiated picture of children's spatial culture emerges when children discuss and take photographs of…

The construction of shared meanings in play, pretense enactment, internal state language, and sibling relationship quality were investigated in 40 kindergarteners with an older (M age = 7.10 years) or younger (M age = 3.6 years) sibling. Dyadic strategies to construct shared meanings (e.g., extensions, building on) were positively associated with…

In this paper we examine the role of play in human ontogeny and phylogeny, following Surplus Resource Theory. We consider how juveniles use play to sample their environment in order to develop adaptive behaviors. We speculate about how innovative behaviors developed in play in response to environmental novelty may influence subsequent evolutionary…