Notes that the role of children's play in learning is of primary importance, and discusses the impact of technology on play and as play. Suggests that the opportunity for learning and play in technological environments should be explored to provide young children an educational enhancement and to maintain contact with the popular culture of young…

Explains a classroom experiment to create a folk story about the trickster, a folklore metaphor, through dramatic role playing, improvisation, and imaginative play. Describes the activities used, including details of the students' dramatic role playing and the use of "gibberish" as language. Discusses the methods used for creation of a…

Presents an evolutionary model of children's play, noting that an evolutionary approach to children's play is virtually unknown in educational studies. Maintains that there is some urgency in stressing the contribution biological sciences can make to the study of early development, because an enormous amount of relevant research has been ignored…

Evaluates the extent to which Smith's work adds to the theoretical and evidentiary basis for the role of playgrounds in children's education and development. Finds the basic construct of "risk" as presented in the book to be unfocused, and suggests that to make inferences from the work about the value of risk for children is premature. (HTH)

Offers suggestions for providing opportunities for play that moves the spirit as well as the body. Describes cultural influences on play and the role of competition. Focuses on ways teachers can create and experience play that is physically and emotionally safe, challenging, inclusive, innovative, and fun. Includes descriptions of specific games…

A study examined reliability and validity of the Test of Playfulness (ToP) with 25 children who have physical disabilities but no cognitive limitations, comparing their scores with those of able-bodied peers and examining patterns of difference in test items between groups. The mean ToP scores of the two groups did not differ. (Contains 33…

Tells how caregivers planning summertime theme-oriented special events for children can build enthusiasm, encourage cooperation, and provide fun activities. Presents four themes: (1) "Beach Blast"; (2) "Splash Day"; (3) "Crazy Carnival"; and (4) "Balloon Blowout." Describes several activities in each…

Examined the impact of fathers giving massages to their infants, ages 3 to 14 months, for 15 minutes prior to their daily bedtime for 1 month. Found that fathers who had massaged their infants were more expressive and showed more enjoyment and more warmth during floor-play interactions with their infants than did fathers in the wait-list control…

A "flow chart day" is a block of uninterrupted time during which a group participates in a series of preplanned, possible activities in arbitrary order to promote group unity and a sense of being in the moment. Instructions for coordinating the experience, suggestions for group activities, and a "flow chart" are included. (SV)

Play therapy and filial therapy show promise as effective ways to provide direct services to Head Start, addressing the needs of the children, the families, and the Head Start teachers and staff. Examines the utility of play and filial therapies for the Head Start population, presents a systemic explanation for the benefit of filial therapy, and…

Presents a theory of pretense in which pretense representations are contained in a separate mental workspace, a Possible World Box, part of the basic architecture of the human mind with several similarities to beliefs. Maintains that pretend play is motivated from a desire to act in a way that fits the description being constructed in the Possible…

Examined young children's play interactions and beliefs in inclusive preschool settings. Found a tendency for children without disabilities to engage in more cooperative play and less solitary play and on-looking behavior than their peer with disabilities. Found a high level of similarity between the two groups in choice of free play activities.…

The relationship between playfulness and creativity was examined among preschoolers in Japan. Statistical data analysis indicated no relationship between playfulness and creativity. Because teachers described some non-playful children as playful because of an internal playfulness that manifested in one-on-one interaction, qualitative data analysis…

We examined the effects of a video modeling intervention on social initiation and play behaviors with 3 children with autism using a multiple baseline across subjects design. Each child watched a videotape showing a typically developing peer, and the experimenter engaged in a simple social interactive play using one toy. For all children, social…

Is an aesthetic experience ever achieved in a creative drama class or in attending a performance of a children's play? If it is, how does one know and how can it be achieved? This article is the authors' personal account of revisiting memories of her passion for theatre in all its forms (first as a child and years later as a teacher) in the light…