Working toward play: Complexity in children's fantasy activities

1995 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn R. Whalen

ABSTRACTChildren's play activities are widely perceived as developing from primitive to increasingly complex forms of social organization, as children mature and acquire interactional competency. Research following this traditional, developmentally oriented approach postulates that sports and games with rules are the most advanced and complex form of play activity; activities involving fantasy and pretend-play are viewed in comparison as considerably less complex. This article argues that fantasy play encounters exhibit complex features in their own right, and that long-held distinctions between higher-order games and fantasy play are conceptually overdrawn. The argument is grounded in a conversation analytic study of the play activities of a cross-sex, mixed-age neighborhood play group. This analysis focuses on the endogenous social organization of a fantasy play encounter. (Conversation analysis, children's play, socialization, social psychology)

Author(s):  
И.А. Конева ◽  
Т.А. Серебрякова ◽  
О.И. Борисова

В статье рассматриваются особенности игровой деятельности дошкольников с расстройствами аутистического спектра (РАС). Данная проблема является недостаточно разработанной в специальной психологии и психокоррекционной практике и очень актуальной с точки зрения оптимизации развития детей с РАС. Анализируются результаты психологических исследований по отмеченной проблеме; описывается методологический аппарат проведенного авторами эмпирического изучения особенностей игровой деятельности дошкольников с расстройствами аутистического спектра (РАС): цель, гипотеза, методики; дается качественный анализ полученных результатов. В процессе сравнения особенностей игры дошкольников с РАС с возрастными нормативами доказано, что игровая деятельность этих детей отличается своеобразием: у большинства преобладает предметно-манипулятивная деятельность; отмечаются трудности в использовании предметов-заместителей в игре, нарушения при использовании свойств игрушки; предпочитаемая игра имеет стереотипный характер, а основным побудителем для игры служит выраженный сенсорный раздражитель. Подтверждена гипотеза о том, что у дошкольников с РАС в игровой деятельности преобладают предметные манипуляции, стереотипные действия, использование игрушек не по назначению. Кроме того, у дошкольников с РАС выявлены индивидуальные особенности игровой деятельности: предпочитаемые игры и игрушки, выбираемые места для игр, наличие или отсутствие ролевой речи. Перспективы дальнейшего исследования особенностей игровой деятельности дошкольников с расстройствами аутистического спектра могут быть связаны с разработкой индивидуально ориентированных коррекционно-развивающих программ с учетом особенностей игры каждого ребенка для оптимизации его общего психического развития. The article treats the characteristics of play activities for preschool children with autism spectrum disorders. This issue of special psychology and psychocorrectional practice is under-investigated and highly relevant as a means to enhance the development of children with autism spectrum disorders. The article analyzes the results of psychological research on the issue. It describes the methodological apparatus for empirical investigation of play activities for preschool children with autism spectrum disorders: the aim, the hypothesis, the methods employed. It also provides a quality analysis of the obtained results. A comparative analysis of autistic children’s play activities and play activities of normotypical children of the same age shows that autistic children’s play activities have some peculiarities: the majority of children engage in object play, they experience difficulties with symbolic play, cannot properly use the properties of a play object, they prefer stereotypical and repetitive play activities, they engage in play activities for the physical sensation it creates. The article proves the hypothesis that preschool children with autism spectrum disorders engage in object manipulations, stereotypical activities, do not use objects the way they are intended to be used. Moreover, preschool children with autism spectrum disorders demonstrate individual peculiarities when engaged in play activities: favorite toys and games, favorite play spots, absence or presence of verbal communication during pretend play. Further investigation of play activities for preschool children with autism spectrum disorders can be associated with the development of individual correctional programs that take into consideration children’s individual play characteristics and enhance children’s psychological development.


1983 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-152
Author(s):  
Harvey J. Ginsburg ◽  
Mitzi S. Wauson ◽  
Michael Easley

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 706
Author(s):  
Anastasia Kourti ◽  
Androniki Stavridou ◽  
Eleni Panagouli ◽  
Theodora Psaltopoulou ◽  
Maria Tsolia ◽  
...  

Play is a key factor for children’s healthy psychological, emotional, social, and cognitive development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been postulated that children’s play was affected, not only regarding the time children spent playing but also in terms of the qualitative characteristics of play. The aim of this review was to investigate how children’s play has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. A review was conducted in the PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, SCOPUS, ERIC, PsycInfo, and JSTOR databases up to 6 December 2020. Furthermore, references of eligible studies as well as of relevant articles were searched using a snowballing technique. The search retrieved 17 eligible studies, conducted in Europe and North America. In general, outdoor play was reduced during the pandemic; on the other hand, there was an increase in indoor play and in videogames-screen time. COVID-19 was present in children’s pretend play. Children’s play was a key contributor to children’s mood and wellbeing. Furthermore, teachers were especially concerned about how children’s play was affected during the lockdown measures. There is evidence that children’s play habits were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic; further research is required, especially cross-culturally oriented.


Pedagogika ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-205
Author(s):  
Agnė Brandišauskienė ◽  
Danguolė Maslienė

This article aims to give an overview of the situation of children’s play in ECEC classrooms. According to the teacher’s opinions and observations, it could be said that ECEC institutions allow free play of children: the kids like to play in small-sized and often gender-mixed groups. It is observed that while playing alone girls and boys prefer different games, and each play theme is usually developed from a few days to a week. Deeper analysis reveals that the topics of children’s games are steaming from their personal experience. The older children more freely construct imaginary situations and are less dependent on objects and environment. In teacher’s opinions, fantasy themes (that are the indicators of higher level of play) of play are not frequent but elder children play more fantasy themes than the younger ones. Understanding the significance of play for the development of children we speculate that the educator’s role in supporting or suppressing possibilities for play in the classroom is of greatest importance. Therefore, a more detailed analysis of the teacher’s understanding of the concept and the phenomenon of play would be very meaningful.


1995 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 854-855
Author(s):  
Karin Lifter

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