Suggests ways of improving human relationships and values through the medium of play and games for children. Activities can be structured so participants can practice and perfect life and love enhancing skills. Interventions based on parent education, prosocial television programing and screening of teachers and coaches are suggested. (JAC)

Studies in the role of play in child development are classified in terms of their major correlates or dependent variables: (1) creativity, (2) problem solving, (3) language development, (4) logical skills, and (5) social knowledge. Study designs are critically examined, and internal and external validity problems are noted. (Author/PN)

Ideas are presented for the creation of various puppets which can be used to teach different topics in the elementary school classroom. A song and ideas for stages for puppet shows and a "puppet corner" are also included. (CJ)

Three articles discuss: (1) the importance of play for developing children's self-esteem and sense of control over their environment; (2) features that will probably characterize children's play in the future; and (3) the need for a national commitment to better playgrounds. Activities of national and international organizations concerned with…

The competitive structure in which most children are taught to play is responsible for problems associated with stress. Athletic performance is important in how the child is perceived by peers and adults. Children who perceive themselves as inadequate at sports often feel low self-confidence and low self-esteem. (JN)

Nystulian Play Therapy is based on Adlerian strategies. Encouragement of and respect for the child are emphasized. Teacher and parent education are important parts of a comprehensive approach to affective positive change in the child. (JAC)

Suggests ways in which cultural values can be taught to young people in bilingual classrooms through literature and games. (PMJ)

Longitudinal videotape recordings of six young children with autism and six age- and language-matched children with Down syndrome in structured play with their mothers were analyzed. Findings of reduced expression of positive affect by autistic subjects suggest that their known deficits in attention and affective responsiveness persisted even in…

Examines the extent of mothers' and fathers' involvement in children's play, and stylistic variations in that play. Results from 35 preschool children from multiethnic families reveal boys played differently than girls and parental involvement was also different. Parent's different interactions with sons' versus daughters' playing shows that…

Illustrates the important roles that fathers and mothers play in helping the family to connect and in encouraging their children's autonomy. Claims that fathers have the same physiological response to an infant's cry and go through the same sequence of earliest parental behaviors as mothers. Concludes that there is no biological imperative…

Examines the communicative competence of young children acquiring English and French simultaneously in the home by observing how they used their languages during separate play sessions with monolingual strangers and their bilingual parents. Findings reveal that all of the children made some accommodations linked to the monolingualism of the…

Observed children in family and center day care settings, exploring changes in interaction with adults and peers. Found that children who spent more time with peers engaged in more complex peer play than did those who spent less time. Caregivers influenced amount and complexity of peer play, but indirectly, through the degree to which they helped…

Defines creativity, recognizing both developmental continuities and discontinuities. Also distinguishes between creative interpretation and cognitive restructuring, emphasizing transformational abilities, and between perceptual and discretionary cognitive processes. (DR)

Examined the types of play mothers introduce in direct response to their toddlers' play and the actual maternal play behaviors. Findings suggested that mothers tend to play with their toddlers in ways that might promote their children's development and that mothers with more knowledge about play development provide their children with…

Presents position of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) regarding children and play. Discusses ACEI's fundamental beliefs about the importance of play, citing supporting research and theory. Presents guiding principles and practices for play experiences, focusing on adults' crucial role in structuring and planning the…