Assessed the extent to which preferential personal attraction was associated with behavioral similarity among newly acquainted children. Found that "discriminating" children were more behaviorally similar to preferred playmates than nonpreferred playmates, both in terms of cognitive play style and social participation. (AA)

Examines issues related to current practice in early childhood special education in light of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). Focuses on the appropriateness of DAP principles to the education of young children with disabilities, specifically the importance placed on play in mainstream early education and whether this can be transferred…

Reviews four journal articles on the following topics: (1) children's creative solutions to realistic and fanciful story problems; (2) Vygotskian perspectives on deafness and mother-child interaction; (3) outcomes-based education; and (4) the differences in play activities of at-risk and not-at-risk elementary school children. (TJQ)

Addresses drama in the early childhood classroom as a useful tool for focusing on many of the current concerns in education including problem solving, integration of curriculum, writing across the curriculum, and authentic assessment. (RS)

Suggests that, through practical understanding of quantum theory, teachers can develop new role-play and narrative strategies, arguing that describing fictional worlds through narrative and exploring virtual worlds through role play can transform children's consciousness. Applies the quantum theory metaphor to drama, learning, and self-image.…

Includes the following articles on block play: "Block Building: Opportunities for Learning" (Cuffaro); "Block Play: Experiences in Cooperative Learning and Living" (Cartwright); "Block Play is for ALL Children" (Stritzel); "Enriching the Possibilities of Block Play" (Reifel); and "On the Floor with…

Investigated the relationship between Singaporean preschoolers' play and language patterns. Observations of 56 children at play in a standardized setting in their classrooms and in their homes were videotaped and analyzed using two play measures and five language measures. Higher levels of play and higher levels of language were found to…

Study of same-sex play networks found that between ages four and six, the size of girls' play networks decreases along with the number of girls excluded. Although results did not confirm the hypothesis that the size of boys' play networks increases, there was a trend for boys in the older classes to exclude fewer playmates from their networks. (AA)

Three possibilities for the pathogenesis of childhood autism are considered. Little evidence exists for autism as a basic affective disorder, as proposed by R. P. Hobson, but growing evidence supports childhood autism as a basic cognitive disorder, as the author argues. The author's original theoretical perspectives are revised. (SLD)

Examined two series of fantasy play interactions, one in which a young child succeeded in directing the play of her peers and one in which a child was less successful at similar influence attempts. A theory of double-voiced discourse illustrates how dual-orientated talk facilitates children's efforts to influence peers during fantasy play. (54…

Discusses play as preparation for life, and the role of aggressive play. Provides guidelines for caregivers to help children modify their aggressive play, and for working with parents to help reinforce positive, prosocial behavior in children. (HTH)

This paper formulates guidelines for the design of children's play environments to optimize children's creativity during play. The paper defines "play," discusses Jean Piaget's work on cognitive adaptation, discusses creativity in the context of cognitive adaptation, and proposes designs for play environments to produce behavioral adaptation that…

Presented is a parent's viewpoint that criticizes assessment methods that diminish appreciation for diverse ways of knowing, discourage discovery and project-based learning, diminish the natural problem-solving aspects of play, and perpetuate the single right answer form of assessment. Assessment that values the child, includes all interested…

This paper describes the Early Childhood Social Skills Program developed at the University of Pittsburgh's Early Childhood Research Institute. The paper discusses specific social skill strategies as well as steps for implementing the peer-mediated social skill program in an integrated preschool setting. (JDD)

Improvisational role-play is presented as a teaching strategy that can help students with hearing impairments learn to use a variety of language forms while growing in literature appreciation. The teacher develops lesson plans around a story the children are reading, and students enter into the characters' roles, exploring the situations that…