The link between the quality of attachment in infancy and the quality of play and problem-solving behavior at age two years was examined in 48 infants. (Author/JMB)

This article offers suggestions for games, contests, and festive entertainments for community enjoyment. (JD)

Twenty infants were observed interacting with their mothers and fathers at home when they were 7, 8, 12, and 13 months of age. No parental preference was found in the infants' attachment behaviors. Differences were found in the infants' affiliative behaviors, in their responses to parental play, and in situations in which they were held by…

This study examined the initial cognitive shifts marking the onset of fantasy episodes for 16 4-year-old children (4 boy-pairs and 4 girl-pairs). The children's dyadic social interactions were videotaped in three 1-hour play sessions and 90 spontaneously occurring cases of fantasy were analyzed. (Author/JMB)

This study examined the relation between symbolic play training and conservation in 30 middle-class nonconserving 4-year-old children. Results showed that 13 experimental subjects manifested some change in solving conservation problems after symbolic play training while only one control subject showed any change toward conservation on the…

Two experiments contrasted the effects of several methods of initiating the play activity of elementary school children on children's willingness to persist in an initially interesting activity. (Author)

The study reports the effects of a reinforcement program on social behaviors of three preschool children who displayed inappropriate behaviors during peer interactions. The program was effective in increasing cooperative play by at least 50 percent over baseline, and the behavior changes were maintained when tokens were withdrawn. (Author/CL)

Parental responses to grammatically correct and incorrect child utterances were observed in free-play interactions of two groups, each containing 10 parents and their language learning children. Group 1: 21-26 months old, with MLU's between 2 and 2.5 morphemes. Group 2: 34-40 months old, with MLU's between 3 and 3.5 morphemes. (Author/BN)

Pairs of unacquainted preschool children and infants were observed in a playroom. Each infant's mother attempted to engage the child in interaction with her baby. Results of this study were compared with a previous study in which mothers did not attempt to facilitate interaction. (Author/PCB)

In recent years, new developments have been made in designing play structures for disabled children and understanding their needs while they play. This article examines important questions regarding "mainstream" equipment designed for children at various development stages, design features for disabled children, outdoor classrooms, imagination,…

The article makes a case against the structuring of intramural sports programs on the basis of the varsity athletics model, arguing that the latter model's components of competition and aggression mar the former's intrinsic rewards of play, creativity, and enhanced human relationships. (CB)

Historical views of play are summarized. Research on the role of childhood play in developmental and learning processes is reviewed. Implications from research and suggestions to promote a play environment are listed. (MT)

Forty-three caregivers of infants under 18 months of age in 28 day care centers were observed for their: (1) initiation of interaction and response to infants, (2) stimulation of infant play, and (3) use of affect, vocal, visual and tactile communications. (Author/RWB)