This booklet was developed from the premise that the activity of drama is central to a child's language experience. Its purpose is to help the classroom teacher initiate drama activities, understand the relationship of the activities to one another, use drama activities as an integral part of the classroom curriculum, and determine whether the…

Evidence which suggests that pretend activities become increasingly independent of the presence of realistic objects is examined in this paper. Results of research on pretend behavior in children 1 1/2 - 2 years of age are described and analyzed. Striking changes in pretend behavior are shown to occur during the second year of life. Pretend play…

This booklet uses both words and photographs to describe behavior patterns typical of children from one to two years old and to suggest home play activities appropriate for use with children of this age. The booklet is organized into four age ranges: 12-15 months, 15-18 months, 18-21 months, and 21-24 months. Within each of these sections, a…

Where does leisure lead--to philosophical changes, to changes in our behavior and its effect within and with our environment, to a different society? Are we moving from a work to a leisure ethnic? Leisure Today is concerned with the challenge expressed above and with the educational responsibilities for experiences and the consequent individual…

This paper reports on an experiment carried out by the Chinese language program at Oberlin College to use play production as a means of teaching spoken Chinese. The experiment was inspired by the fact that teaching spoken Chinese cannot be solved by traditional classroom methods, particularly at the intermediate level. The lack of texts, the…

This booklet contains suggestions for suitable play activities for preschool children. In an attempt to answer the questions of homemakers and mothers an explanation of the place of play in a child's life, and some ways that an adult can help are presented. Also discussed is the vital importance of play in the total development of the child.…

In exploring nonverbal language, this book suggests activities in which children can express and interpret meanings with more than words, provides a starting point for teachers in helping children develop nonverbal communication skills, and recommends that teachers build language arts programs which emphasize more than just words. Contents consist…

This ideabook, designed to aid parents and teachers in developing the preschool child's powers of creative thinking and self-expression, suggests 50 ideas and activities for stimulating creativity in preschool children. The entries are presented in five chapters: (1) Viewing the World with Wonder and Open Eyes; (2) Natural Artistic Talent; (3)…

The purpose of this study was to summarize an examination of the social interactions of a sample of 370 preschool children and to demonstrate from the summary that social settings within the preschool environment differentially affect both the quality and quantity of social interaction. The Social Interaction Observation Procedure was used to…

This research study, one in a series on day care, is based on the rationale that 2-year-old children, in play, are predominantly oriented toward solitary play and adults. Twelve subjects between 24 and 38 months of age, matched demographically on the Caldwell Pre-School Inventory and the Vineland Social Scales of Maturity were selected to test…

Bridge-to-Reading is a comprehensive, easy-to-implement readiness curriculum (for ages 2 1/2 -- 6) based on the premise that young children learn language and prereading skills most easily by "doing" and then learning and using the words that explain their experiences. Each section in the series is presented in a separate notebook containing…

The practical handbook is designed to help the beginning early childhood teacher teach effectively in the classroom. Sections of the guide are arranged chronologically, beginning with before-school preparations and the first day of school. Chapters examine children's independence; language arts activities (including storytelling techniques and the…

The IALAC (I Am Loveable and Capable) story presents one day in the life of 14 year old Randy, who puts on his IALAC sign each morning and sets out to face the world. As "put-downs" occur at home and at school, little pieces of his sign are torn away; by the end of the day very little of the sign remains. This allegory is a tool for humanistic…

Effectance, defined as the child's independent, effective interaction with people and things, is studied through observation of the play of 36 preschool low income black children. The children were observed and filmed in semi-structured play sessions, primarily with family dolls, doll furniture, and small baby bottle. Instruments used were: (1)…

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of peers in reducing the isolation of preschool children who exhibited very little or no interaction with peers. Selection of subjects was made on the basis of quantity of verbal behavior and amount and quality of classroom play. In a 15-minute dyad play situation which maximized the…