Suggests various formal and informal approaches to play and notes their use and development in the school and classroom. (Available From: CS 703 732) (MH)

Subjects were 18 mothers and their clinic-referred children. A stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that two maternal behaviors, beta commands and total rewards, displayed in the clinic were the best predictors of child compliance in the home. (Author)

Notes the effect child protagonists can have on adult viewers of a play because adult audiences can be reminded of the helplessness of childhood. (JC)

The study investigated the effects of two levels of teacher intrusion upon the behavior of eight elementary level autistic children and their nonhandicapped peers during dyadic play interactions. Few differences in subject behavior were observed, though the low-intrusion condition was associated with higher levels of toy contact and fewer…

COMPUPLAY, a program of the National Lekotek Center (Illinois) for handicapped children (ages 2-14) emphasizes the value of parent/child play activities using computers and provides computer support and resources to parents and professionals. (DB)

The study compared effects of toy play and computer activity on vocalization and social play in dyads consisting of a disabled preschooler and nondisabled peer. Computer activity was as effective or slightly more effective than toy play in stimulating vocalizations and social play. (Author/DB)

Explores the wonders of life, as functions of children and parents in change. Describes the process of participation in play therapy. Presents examples of cases in progress. (Author/KS)

Introduces the Social Relations Model as a new approach for understanding reciprocity during parent-child and sibling play. (PCB)

Reviews current research on play. Notes different theoretical explanations and maintains no adequate general theory of play exists. Covers such areas as: (1) the effects of toys on play, (2) categories of play, (3) the influence of parents and educators on play, (4) mental activity and play, and (5) factors related to play intensity. (JDH)

A cross-sectional research study and a longitudinal research study failed to replicate previous research findings that indicated a linear relationship between age and mean length of utterance during the preschool years. Instead, a deceleration in age curves, particularly beyond about 36 months, was observed in each sample. (Author/CB)

The arts do not feature prominently in education systems of such countries as Australia. Yet evidence from a range of sources indicates central importance of the arts to human life. Children exhibit, through play, the essential qualities of the arts, and the arts provide us all (children included) with a means of individual expression and forms of…

This study investigated the hypothesis that children's play styles are influenced by "messages" their parents give from their own leisure. Play styles of 97 preschool children were rated and correlated with each parent's leisure attitudes and preferences. Results are presented. (Author/MT)

An intervention approach emphasizing development of symbolic thought, communication, and interpersonal relationships was implemented with 26 children (ages 2-6) with pervasive developmental disorder, or severe emotional handicaps. Ss demonstrated significant changes in several targeted developmental areas, including cognition, perceptual/fine…

Two autistic children (5 and 13 years old) acquired functional sight-word reading skills in a play activity. Ss gained access to preferred toys by selecting toy labels in tasks requiring increasingly complex visual discriminations. Ss showed comprehension on probes requiring reading skills to locate toys stored in labeled boxes. (Author/CL)

Two nonhandicapped preschoolers were taught strategies thought to facilitate interaction and were prompted to use these strategies during free play with three handicapped (behavior disordered) classmates. The intervention resulted in higher rates of interaction for each of the handicapped children that persisted above baseline levels after teacher…