Summarizes results of studies indicating that play training led to significant increases in young children's problem-solving ability, use of language, creative thinking ability, verbal ability, and conservation. (Author/MP)

Drawing on case study data from an urban school, examines the elementary school classroom as a setting for children's learning of culturally appropriate modes of informal work group behavior. Concludes that schools temper the spontaneity, solidarity, and autonomy that pupils can enjoy in their informal relations with one another. (Author/GC)

Describes the mounting of Ionesco's "La Lecon" through a group of junior high school students, and the subsequent videotaping of the performance for viewing by a large audience. Suggestions are given for using drama and videotapes in the language classroom. (AM)

The author explores the rationale and methods for injecting play and reality into the education of the gifted. After recounting the present situation in which education lacks both relevance and play, some suggestions of learning simulations which model reality are presented. (PHR)

Investigates how two traditional early childhood activity settings, the block and housekeeping areas, influence young children's play and social behaviors. (Author/MP)

Considers the value of published subject bibliographies in helping to winnow the amount of retrieved information from electronic catalogs and indexes based on an information search of the interdisciplinary field of play and leisure. A case study compares the process of developing two bibliographies about play and leisure. (Author/LRW)

Describes features of social pretend play and identifies characteristics of young children's cognitive and social play that may inhibit their participation. Describes approaches for supporting the social pretend play of children with mild to moderate developmental delays and disabilities, including assessment of play skills, use of structured play…

The joint attentional processes of 15 preschool children with autism and 15 preschool children with developmental language disorder were compared during play sessions with unfamiliar adults. It was found that the children with autism monitored the channel of communication with their adult play partners 37% less often than children in the…

This article examines "low tech" assistive technology options for positioning, communication, learning, mobility, and self-care barriers for infants and children with disabilities, focusing on play activities. Combined low- and high-tech assistive systems are described. Policy issues interfering with inclusion of assistive devices in early…

Explored development of interpersonal understanding by observing two four-year-old boys as they played checkers. All interactions were coded and conflicts were isolated and coded for resolution. Found a decrease in impulsive strategies and an increase in reciprocal strategies during the year, and increased ability to resolve conflicts and a…

The first of two articles on play reviews the development of play in typically developing infants, toddlers, and young children, including Piaget's observations on the development of play; developmental play research following Piaget (research by Lunzer, Sinclair, Lezine, Lowe, Rosenblatt, Uzgiris and Hunt, Fenson and others, Watson and Fischer,…

Describes the curriculum activities in one child-centered, developmentally appropriate child care facility preschool classroom. Explains how activities are selected according to children's needs, interest, and ability, and how activities address the kindergarten core competencies mandated by the North Carolina public school system. Asserts that…

Examined gender-typed behavior and interests in 2- to 10-year-old girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and in unaffected girls matched for age. Found that, compared with unaffected girls, girls with CAH were more interested in masculine toys and less interested in feminine toys and were more likely to report having male playmates and…

Compared preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders with a matched control group to investigate whether weak central coherence could account for deficits in two behaviors purported to tap capabilities fundamental to a theory of mind: joint attention and pretend play. Found that pretend play did not differentiate the two groups. Weak central…