scholarly journals Do Children Need Adult Support During Sociodramatic Play to Develop Executive Functions? Experimental Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolai Veresov ◽  
Aleksander Veraksa ◽  
Margarita Gavrilova ◽  
Vera Sukhikh
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Sociodramatic Play ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Historical Approach ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Children’S Play

The cultural-historical approach provides the deep theoretical grounds for the analysis of children’s play. Vygotsky suggested three critical features of play: switching to an imaginary situation, taking on a play role, and acting according to a set of rules defined by the role. Collaboration, finding ideas and materials for creating an imaginary situation, defining play roles, and planning the plot are complex tasks for children. However, the question is, do children need educator’s support during the play to develop their executive functions, and to what extent? This experimental study was aimed at answering this inquiry. The four modes of sociodramatic play were created which differed in the adult intervention, from non-involvement in the play to its entire organization. The play could be child-led (with adult help), adult-led, or free (without any adult intervention); and there was also a control group where the children heard the same stimulus stories as the other groups but then followed them up with a drawing activity instead of a play activity. The study revealed that, firstly, the ways of educator’s involvement in the play differed in their potential in respect to the development of executive functions, and, secondly, this influence was not equal for different components of executive functions. Free play in the experiment was not a beneficial condition for the development of any of the studied components of executive functions, compared to the conditions involving the participation of an adult in the play. Furthermore, the type of adult intervention stimulated the development of various executive functions. The entire organization of the play by the adult had a positive impact of their general development. In contrast, the adult’s assistance in the organization of the children’s play had a positive effect on the development of inhibitory control. The study results can be helpful when considering educational practices within a cultural-historical approach to engaging the potential of play in children’s learning and development around the world.

scholarly journals The Infant Cuddler Study: Evaluating the effectiveness of volunteer cuddling in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 414-418
Author(s):  
Amanda Hignell ◽  
Karen Carlyle ◽  
Catherine Bishop ◽  
Mary Murphy ◽  
Teresa Valenzano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives St. Michael’s Hospital launched a volunteer cuddling program for all infants admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit in October 2015. The program utilizes trained volunteers to cuddle infants when caregivers are not available. This was a pilot study to assess the impact of a volunteer cuddle program on length of stay (LOS) and feasibility of implementation of the program. Methods A mixed methods approach was utilized to measure both quantitative and qualitative impact. A pilot cohort study with a retrospective control group assessed the feasibility of implementing a volunteer cuddling program for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Length of stay was used as a surrogate marker to measure the impact of cuddling on infants being treated for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Focus groups using semi-structured interviews were conducted with volunteers and nurses at the end of the pilot study. Results LOS was reduced by 6.36 days (U=34, P=0.072) for infants with NAS in the volunteer cuddling program. Focus groups with both bedside nurses and program volunteers described a positive impact of cuddling programs on infants, families, staff, and volunteers alike. Conclusions The study results suggest that the volunteer cuddling program may reduce LOS in infants with NAS and have potential economic savings on hospital resources. However, larger prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these results.

scholarly journals Role Substitution in Preschoolers’ Play with Toy Characters

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50
Author(s):  
I.A. Ryabkova ◽  
E.G. Sheina
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Specific Function ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Children’S Play ◽  
Family Home

This paper is a part of the research devoted to observing free play with different role-playing materials in preschool children.Here we describe the results of our observations of preschoolers’ play with toy characters (dolls, figures, soft toys, etc.).It was found that there are significant gender differences in this type of play: boys either do not play at all or play in the director’s position; at the same time, if they take on a role, they tend to ignore toy characters.As it is shown, the number of role-playing names is quite high in the children’s play with toy characters.This may reflect the specific function of this type of material in play.Among the prevailing play topics are family, home, pets, everyday life and motives of care and attention in general.Age analysis showed that the number of children with roles increases at 6 years, while at 5 years — when play is at its peak – role substitution in playing with toy characters is rather ignored by children.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of oral administration of peppermint and coriander extracts on cognition in Scopolamine induced rat model of amnesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 4222-4226
Author(s):  
Jasira Sirajudheen ◽  
Sai Sailesh Kumar Goothy ◽  
Mukkadan J K
Keyword(s):  
Oral Administration ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Peppermint Extract ◽  
Neuroprotective Actions ◽  
Wistar Albino Rats

Herbs and spices have been shown to be very effective in the management of the neurological disorders. They have neuroprotective actions that prevent the deterioration of the memory and other cognitive functions in the neurological diseases. Peppermint (menthe×piperita, also known as M. balsamea wild) is a hybrid mint, a cross between water mint and spearmint. Peppermint consists of several medicinal components and research was testified safety of consumption of the peppermint. The study compared the memory-boosting and regaining effects of oral administration of peppermint and coriander extracts. 36 male and female Wistar albino rats were assigned into three groups randomly that is control, coriander and peppermint groups, respectively. A control group (n=6) received neither peppermint nor coriander administered (milk was administered). Peppermint group (n=6) received peppermint extract. Coriander group (n=6) received coriander extract. Amnesia rat model was prepared by the administration of as intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine. The R-maze and T-maze tasks was conducted as mentioned in the literature. Mean trials of acquisition is significantly less (P<0.01) in the peppermint group. The number of mean trials of retention is significantly less (P<0.01) in the peppermint group. The mean trials for retention of the coriander group is significantly (P<0.05) less than the peppermint group. The study results support a positive impact of coriander and peppermint on cognition. The study recommends further detailed studies to support the administration of these extracts in the management of neurological diseases that deteriorates cognition.

scholarly journals Modern Problems of Children's Play: Cultural-Historical Context

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 60-70
Author(s):  
N.E. Veraksa ◽  
N.N. Veresov ◽  
A.N. Veraksa ◽  
V.L. Sukhikh
Keyword(s):  
Historical Context ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Historical Approach ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Large Spread ◽  
Children’S Play ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Classical Game

The purpose of this article is to analyze the state of modern research on children’s play, approaches to its study, as well as existing methods of its evaluation. The relevance of the topic is due to the leading role of the play in preschool childhood and the complexity of this phenomenon. Play is actively studied, and play interventions are often used. However, the analysis of the literature shows confusion and uncertainty of terminology due to a large spread of theoretical positions and methodological approaches to the study of play. This creates great difficulties in planning and conducting research, and affects their results. The article deals with the issues of defining and classifying play, understanding its structure and development. The main trends of modern research and their connection with classical game theories, the role of cultural-historical approach and the contribution of E.O. Smirnova to the study of play are shown.

Play Work and Play Therapy

2020 ◽  
pp. 196-211
Author(s):  
Michael Yamoah
Keyword(s):  
Play Therapy ◽  
Developmentally Appropriate ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Life Long Learning ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Curriculum Framework ◽  
Children’S Play ◽  
Appropriate Practices

The discourse of children's play is conceptualised differently among cultural contexts. This chapter aims at examining the current trends in how play work and play therapy are perceived by scholars in the international community. It will highlight the theoretical conceptual framework, evidence and pedagogical practices, as well as the cultural importance that inform the choice of play work in early childhood education that pertains to developmentally appropriate practices. Play work and play therapy have seen a lot of research; however, the author will readdress the perceived challenges that persist and still confront the minds of many practitioners about children's play and the curriculum framework. While some authors see play work and its therapeutic nature as a positive way of contributing to children's learning and development, thereby promoting life-long learning, others see it a way of wasting precious time. In conclusion, it is stated that play work and play therapy cannot be overlooked due to their numerous related benefits.

Parental Play Beliefs in the Developing Areas of China: A Multiple Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 625
Author(s):  
Yiqi Zhang ◽  
Suzannie K. Y. Leung ◽  
Hui Li
Keyword(s):  
Parent Education ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Coastal Cities ◽  
Children’S Play ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Parent Education Programs ◽  
At Home

Existing studies have explored parental play beliefs in the developed coastal cities in mainland China, leaving parents in developing areas unstudied. This study aimed to understand how these understudied parents view and engage in their children’s play at home, using Bronfenbrenner’s process–person–context–time (PPCT) model. Eight families were interviewed and observed to explore parental beliefs and practices regarding young children’s play at home. Thematic analysis showed that most parents appreciated the importance of play in children’s early development but did not know how to scaffold their children’s play activities. In addition, the high SES families supported child-led play (i.e., free play), whereas the lower SES families adopted traditional rule-based and adult-driven modes. Therefore, more parent education programs and support should be provided to lower SES families in these developing areas.

scholarly journals An Overview of Developed Forms of Pretend Play Situation in Ecec Institutions in Lithuania

Pedagogika ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-205
Author(s):  
Agnė Brandišauskienė ◽  
Danguolė Maslienė
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Pretend Play ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Children’S Play ◽  
Mixed Groups ◽  
Fantasy Themes

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.

scholarly journals The Role of Physical Activity and Touch in Children’s Social Bonding

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Jefferies ◽  
Bahar Tunçgenç ◽  
Emma Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Helping Behavior ◽  
Social Bonding ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Touch Condition ◽  
Children’S Play

Physical activity (PA) and touch, long known to facilitate interpersonal affiliation in adults and non-human primates, are common elements of children’s free play. However, no research has examined how children’s play involving PA and touch is linked with social bonding (i.e., positive emotional states and behaviors that help create, maintain and characterize affiliation and attachment among individuals). This paper reports on two novel studies designed to explore these links in children’s play. In two studies, we investigated associations between PA, touch and prosociality in 5-to-8-year-old children. In a naturalistic observation study (N = 50), we assessed the amount of PA, smiling/laughing, touch, and prosociality in children’s play behavior during school breaks. PA levels were also measured indirectly via heart rate monitors (HRM). The findings revealed that observed-PA was associated with the amount of smiling/laughing. PA (observed and HRM) was also associated with the amount of touch. In a second study (N = 84), we experimentally tested the effect of touch on helping behavior in the context of physically-active play. In pairs, children ran to collect felt shapes which they placed either onto each other (touch condition) or onto a board (no-touch condition). Subsequent helping behavior was assessed in a separate task. There was a non-significant trend towards more helping in the touch condition. We discuss the findings in terms of the significance of PA and touch for social bonding in childhood and offer suggestions for future research in this underexplored area.

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