In preschools caring for infants and toddlers, outdoor play space is often limited and underdeveloped. When outdoor play space is developed, it is usually geared towards older toddlers, and infants' time in this space is often limited. Measures can be taken to give both infants and toddlers access, in safe and appropriate ways, to the valuable…

This study examined children's play interaction styles with unfamiliar peers; used mother-child and father-child dyadic qualities independently to predict children's social behavior; determined the relationship between children's individual behaviors and peer dyadic characteristics; and compared mother-child and father-child interactions on both…

This study examined cultural differences in the amount and type of maternal scaffolding of children's learning and their effects of scaffolding on children's independent performance across two distinct activities: goal-directed versus free play. Twenty Iranian-American and 20 Anglo-American mothers with their preschool children participated in…

Graduate students enrolled in the play-based Curriculum Research Seminar at Pacific Oaks College (Pasadena) observed and wrote about how children began play and carried out various themes in early childhood settings, and how teachers encouraged or discouraged play themes. Findings indicated that some students related play to issues of bias,…

This handbook provides information on various techniques and strategies that can reduce excessive behaviors and improve deficit behaviors in children with autism. Chapter 1 gives an overview of autism and discusses the development of social skills and play skills in individuals with high-functioning autism. The characteristics of children with…

This book provides suggestions for drama activities and materials based on 14 classic and contemporary fairy tales suitable for both stage and classroom performance. After the introduction (which outlines different ways the stories can used dramatically) and a "Welcome to the Box Office" section, the book provides materials and…

The relationship of familial and school-based risk factors to socioemotional and learning problems was assessed in a sample of 69 Hispanic 3-year-old children in Head Start Programs in New York City. In a preliminary study of maternal stress, child temperament was identified as a significant predictor of child socioemotional problems. School risk…

Recognizing that children need enrichment at home, this book offers hundreds of unusual ways for kids and parents to spend time together. It also demonstrates the fun people can have while learning, and the learning that goes on while having fun. Using this book as a guide, parents and children can survey new subjects ranging from cultural…

SHAPES--an acronym for the South Plains Child Care Management Services (SpCCMS) Helping, Assisting and Preparing Educators and Staff--is also the name of a preschool readiness curriculum that is being developed for use by administrators and teachers. The first phase of the curriculum development consists of the publication of five books to be used…

This pamphlet discusses the role of play in the development of young children and the importance of avoiding placing young children exclusively in programs with a strong academic orientation. Presented in a question-answer format, the pamphlet includes information regarding: (1) the importance of providing opportunities for young children to learn…

This study examines the relationship between the typical activities and social involvement young children experience in Singapore day care centers and the children's language development. Cognitive, physical and domestic activities and social involvement were observed in 16 day care centers and recorded using the Target Child Method of…

This study investigated social interactions with peers on the part of 4-year-olds who were playing with a computer. Subjects were 18 preschoolers whose interactions were videotaped while they played with a computer for eight 45-minute sessions. Composition, initiation, and form of interaction were coded. Observations about the composition of…

One of nine competency-based training modules for personnel preparation in early childhood special education, this guide focuses on the importance of play and learning in preschool programs. All modules are adaptable for use with a general audience, direct service personnel, or administrators and are based on the following principles of the Ohio…

This paper identifies issues confronting early childhood educators who want to integrate young children with special needs with other children, and the implications of such integration for the design of outdoor play settings. The main thesis of the paper focuses on the ambiguity involved when developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood…

This booklet presents child-rearing practices found successful by families of children who are deaf-blind, and includes photographs of deaf-blind children using the techniques. Along with a broad overview of communications theory as it applies to young deaf-blind children, techniques are described for using tactile objects as keys to…