Comments on Nicolopoulou's article in this issue on the idea that play is an inherently social and cultural cognitive childhood activity. Emphasizes the importance of cultural variation of play for research and education. (BB)

Observations of mixed-age classrooms of three and four year olds (n=36), of three year olds (n=27), and four year olds (n=31) found significant age differences in social and cognitive play for same-age, but not mixed-age, classes. Implications for early childhood education are discussed. (SLD)

Examines adults' literacy-assisted behavior, roles, and role-taking during spontaneous play of three and four year olds in three literacy-based play settings. The descriptive observations point toward commonalities among adults' facilitation of literacy play, accepted play intervention techniques, and adult behavior in storybook reading contexts.…

Outlines the educational philosophy of Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the experimental preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, which focuses on providing a physical and social environment for learning through interactions among children, teachers, and parents. Discusses formation of communications networks and 12 principles for organizing small group…

In response to extended-day child care schedules, this article offers suggestions for planning a variety of developmentally appropriate activities to maintain the preschool child's interest and energy. Suggestions are provided for scheduling, enlisting parent and volunteer participation, increasing awareness of current events, and for end-of-day…

Examined links between parenting and preschoolers' peer competence. Found that parent-child play was associated with boys', but not girls', peer competence. Mothers' coaching was associated with girls', but not boys', competence. Mothers' or fathers' involvement in child-peer play predicted lower or higher child competence, respectively. Mothers'…

Observation of 200 children ages 4 to 19 attending a Massachusetts nongraded alternative school disclosed substantial age mixing. Younger children used older children to develop skills and acquire knowledge. Age mixing encouraged opportunities for creativity, helped match abilities, and fostered older children's sense of responsibility for younger…

Describes the experience of preparing Venezuelan English-as-a-Foreign-Language students at lower intermediate level to perform a Trinidadian dialect play before an international audience during a short course. The exercise was used to teach local culture in relation to the native culture of the students and also to teach functional and grammatical…

Describes how early childhood teachers can provide a developmentally appropriate environment that fosters therapeutic play for children of substance-abusing parents. Describes the impact of substance abuse on the parent-child relationship, and discusses the importance of providing daily routines, consistency, firm boundaries, open expression of…

This study compared the effect of two language sampling elicitation contexts, free play and picture descriptions, on variability in the use of African American English (AAE) with 65 normally developing African American children (ages 4 to 6) from lower socioeconomic status homes. Picture descriptions elicited more AAE usage overall, a larger set…

Explains that early childhood music education deserves special attention in light of emerging research on musical growth and growth through music during children's early years. Introduces the special focus on music and early childhood education and describes the articles within the series. (CMK)

This case study of a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with a specific expressive language impairment with verbal apraxia reports on chromosomal, neurological, speech/language, cognitive, and play evaluations. Evaluation found a chromosomal translocation and a severe expressive speech-language deficit but good nonverbal cognitive and communicative skills.…

Explores how students take what they understand through reading and talking about literature and express their ideas in art, drama, music, or math. Argues that one way learners push their understandings and create more complex meanings is through such transmediation. Offers examples of responding to literature through multiple sign systems. (SR)

Presents the Kindezian philosophy of early childhood education, a historical developmentally appropriate Africentric worldview. Describes the curriculum as predating Western curriculum development by centuries. Maintains that Kindezi affords children the possibility to develop their full potential and that it provides a framework on which to…

Suggests that children are actively engaged in recreating, rather than reproducing, playful versions of adult roles, in continual negotiation with their play partners. They sustain multiple, concurrent identities as they draw on a variety of voices as both narrators and narrated characters, telling stories about themselves and other players, and…