Presents descriptions of play reflecting recent theories, including the psychoanalytic works of Freud, Erikson, and Peller; Piaget's developmental theory (with discussion of Sutton-Smith); and the views of Smilansky and Parten. (AS)

Elaborates classroom work skills and the play curriculum. Reviews play's relationship to learning and to the role of the adult. The implications of the American work ethic for play curricula and play training for teachers are discussed. (AS)

Describes kindergarten children's oral and written language behaviors while operating a computer. Stages of computer language play and children's experimentation with speech and writing specific to the computer also are discussed. (AS)

Defines the concept of "play" and its particular value in hospitals. Discusses the need for training hospital play specialists. Describes the aims, content, and organization of such a training course. (AS)

Tested two models of the relationship between a hypothetical attachment mechanism and an incompatible motivation (a tendency to explore) by pitting two levels of attachment motivation against two levels of exploratory motivation among 15- to 18-month-old infants, alternating freely between play with novel toys at one end of the room and visits…

Examines the effect of an unfamiliar peer in a situation requiring a subject's separation from mother in order to play with attractive toys. Observation of 20 children 18 months old and 20 children 30 months old revealed that peer presence facilitated initial separation for both ages, but that age differences in subsequent behaviors existed. (CB)

Organized recreation has become competitive and overstructured in today's society. Children are pushed into many activities where they must excel rather than simply enjoy. Recreation professionals can reexamine agency priorities to help ensure that play is satisfying for children. (DF)

By allowing college students of German to write and perform their own plays, it added a tremendous boost to their interest in speaking a foreign language. This motivated them to do what they would ordinarily have done with great reluctance--memorize a text and engage in an intensive, goal-oriented activity in German, outside the language…

Language delay became increasingly apparent with age, and more so in boys than in girls. There was no significant difference between mental ages derived from standard ability tests and corresponding age equivalent scores of a symbolic play test. A developmental progression of play similar to that seen in non-handicapped groups was found. (RH)

Explored the role of clothing in sex-role socialization by comparing stereotypic clothing-play cognitions with overt play behavior relative to dress. A multi-method approach, including observations and interviews, was used to study the behavior and cognitions of 39 preschool girls. (Author/DST)

Focuses on environmental influences on variations in infants' exploratory behavior, the stability of these differences, and the relation between differences in exploratory play and later cognitive development. (AS)

Argues that schools are alien to human juveniles'"normal" ways of learning. Sees return to more "normal ways" because of near 100 percent literacy in West (so children can "pick up" necessary skills), counterproductivity of current social segregation of the young, and rejection of docility as an appropriate educational goal. (CMG)

Systematic sampling was done of signing between five home-reared chimpanzees who had had 4-7 years of complete immersion in integrating their signing interaction into their nonverbal communication. Eight-eight percent of all signs reported fell into the social categories of reassurance, social interaction, and play. (SL)

According a more important role in the socialization process to the games children play, this study examines sex differences in childrens' playtime activities. A large body of new empirical data on fifth grade school children suggests that play and games equip boys with the social skills needed for occupational careers while equipping girls with…

Discusses the vital importance of the preschool period in educational terms and maintains that early influences are much more effective than later experience; one cannot look upon nursery schools as merely child care services. (MS)