Describes the success of the Academy of Holy Angels' Theater School, which has earned the reputation of producing quality original productions. Discusses aspects of the theater program, including a discussion of the required courses and the ways in which plays are scheduled. Describes the plays that have been produced. (AJL)

This study examined the effects of contact, books, and discussions on attitudes of kindergarten-age children (N=46) toward people with disabilities. At posttest, significant gains in acceptance were found only in a high-contact group who participated in a program designed to promote acceptance through storytime at school and home, structured play,…

This article defines emergent literacy, provides intervention principles for emergent literacy prevention and intervention activities, discusses the meaning of evidence-based practice, and describes three promising evidence-based approaches for emergent literacy intervention, including adult-child shared storybook reading, literacy-enriched play…

This article describes success of an intervention to improve the social-communicative interactions of six Head Start children (age 3) at risk for delays in language and social skills. Skills targeted included: commenting about one's own play actions and actions of peers, asking and responding to peer questions, and taking turns. (Contains…

Analyzed free play of 24 preschoolers (3 to 4 years old), half of whom had disabilities. Found that the proportions of time that each child spent interacting with peers and with adults were negatively correlated for 21 of the children. After an adult had initiated an interaction with them, children were less likely to initiate interaction with a…

Investigated relations between children's attributes and peer play competence among African American preschoolers attending Head Start. Identified six distinctive profiles of personal attributes linked to adaptation in social functioning. Children with highly adaptable temperaments, strong ability to approach new situations, and above average…

Examined the types of play and social interactions in which nine preschoolers with disabilities engaged while at their chosen learning/activity centers in an inclusive program. Found individual differences in the amount of time spent in various centers, the number of different types of play engaged in, and in the amount of time spent in play of…

A study evaluated a program for training two preschool educators to promote cooperative participation between preschoolers with and without disabilities. The training program consisted of viewing examples of how to promote and praise cooperative participation, along with specific instructions and on-the-job feedback. Instruction resulted in…

Notes that most playgrounds for young children fail to encourage children's respect for or interaction with the natural environment, and offers a rationale and some ideas and guidelines for playground improvement. Focuses on how to use the outdoor play area to foster an understanding and appreciation of the natural environment. (Author/SD)

Investigation of the social preferences of typically developing children (N=40) toward peers (N=19) with special needs in inclusive preschool classrooms found the children with special needs received few positive playmate preference nominations, but did not receive a significant number of negative nominations. Children were disliked if they were…

Argues that playgrounds must provide all children with opportunities for physical, social, constructive, dramatic, and game play. Suggests that considerations include playground regulations, safety, age appropriate areas, accommodation of children with physical disabilities, materials selection, construction, available manufactured play equipment,…

The cognitive demand in questions directed to Mexican-descent children by their mothers and fathers were analyzed for videotaped play situations involving gender-neutral, masculine-, or feminine-stereotyped toys. Mothers asked proportionately more conceptual questions than did fathers. Mothers' question asking was influenced by child gender,…

Defines the elements of play, illuminating its central role in young children's learning and development. Focuses on how play experiences contribute to children's independence in negotiating, its role in keeping children involved, and the play-reality distinction. Offers suggestions to teachers for facilitating and supporting children's play,…

Presents a study that compared expressive language opportunities provided by shared book reading and facilitated play and examined the language of young Australian children (n=22) with intellectual disabilities. Finds that the shared book reading elicited more intelligible and complex language. Includes references. (CMK)

Presents four research-based strategies for promoting reading achievement in after-school programs: literacy centers, a print-rich environment, play-based learning, and theme-related activities. Discusses the importance of making books readily available to children, including opportunities for students to read to one another and discuss what they…