Children with autism spectrum disorder often lack fundamental play skills, which can aid development with social, language, and imitation skills (Boutot et al. 2005). The purpose of this study was to extend the previous literature that successfully combined video modeling and matrix training. Matrix training is an efficient way of teaching that…

This study is a qualitative investigation of caregiver-child interactions, involving 15 autistic children who are in the early stages of language learning. Data consisted of 15-min videos of free-play interactions recorded in a University clinic. We use conversation analysis to examine the sequence organization of proposal episodes, where the…

This review was designed to characterize current intervention research for increasing imitation for young children with disabilities. We identified 34 unique sources including assessments of different types of massed trial and embedded trial interventions. Across intervention types, when evaluated via the Single Case Analysis and Review Framework…

Early foreign language teaching has recently been made compulsory in Finland, making this an area open to development and innovation where policy-makers and teachers play a significant role in creating new kinds of learning environments, operating cultures, and pedagogy for foreign language learning. This article discusses the early foreign…

"We love the fact she can learn through play, because she is learning but not realizing, and she does not feel pressurized to learn" (parent of a child with neurodiverse developmental disorders [NDD]). Engaging children with NDD in meaningful learning can be challenging, and that challenge is exacerbated when children are neither…

Documentation, assessment and evaluation processes in early learning contexts should include participation and contribution from all educators. This helps to ensure diversity of knowledge, perspective and background that can create more inclusive and equitable early learning curricula. This article presents findings from a collective case-study…

The research aims to determine the effect of movement and game-based music education on the musical (exercising dynamics, playing the body, singing) skills of students with moderate intellectual disability. Within the framework of this purpose, it was aimed to improve the musical dynamics application skills, body playing skills and singing skills…

Teaching geometry in the early years emerges along with maths activities but might be neglected sometimes. This research aims to identify preschool teachers' opinions on geometry teaching via using semi-structured interviews, and collected data analysed using content analysis. Seven female and three male preschool teachers were participated in the…

Outdoor play with its risks is necessary for optimal child development. Increasing attention is being paid to factors influencing children's opportunities for risky outdoor play, with parent/guardian (hereafter parent) perceptions being an important, under-researched topic. This research explored parents' perceptions of preschoolers' risky outdoor…

Holistic STEAM programs can benefit children by allowing them to develop an intersecting identity in STEAM disciplines, explore real-world issues more broadly, think critically and innovatively, solve problems using integrated approaches, and have confidence across multiple fields of study. Much of the current research situates identity…

Risky play provides multiple benefits for children's development. This study compared teachers' perceptions of risky play in one kindergarten in Norway and one in China, including the concept of risky play, the roles of teachers, the protective strategies adopted, and the factors limiting the practice of risky play. The aim of the article is to…

Background: Play is essential for child growth and development, and may have academic and social-emotional implications. To understand the relationship between in-school play opportunities and academic achievement (AA) and social-emotional well-being among elementary school students, a systematic review of the current in-school play literature was…

Background: Computational approaches in STEM foster creative extrapolations of ideas that extend the bounds of human perception, processing, and sense-making. Inviting teachers to explore computational approaches in STEM presents opportunities to examine shifting relationships to inquiry that support transdisciplinary learning in their classrooms.…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Play Practice instruction on the badminton content knowledge and skill of a cohort of Chinese physical education majors. Method: Seventy-two second-year students participated in semester-long courses following either the principles of Play Practice or skill-focused instruction. A…

Studies about child development emphasize the importance of play in children's early years. However, there is an existing controversy about the role educators should have in young children's free play. This research work studies the approach to early playful activity from Pikler-Lóczy education. A systematic observation was conducted to deepen in…