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The dynamics of play: Including children with special needs in mainstreamed early childhood programs

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Abstract

Teachers in early childhood programs are serving children with special needs as well as non-handicapped children. Children with a variety of handicapping conditions frequently come to these programs without knowledge of how to enter or maintain peer play interactions. This article discusses the dynamics and development of prosocial play activities and suggests ways in which teachers can facilitate and enable the participation of children with special needs.

Résumé

Les éducatrices au préscolaire recoivent des enfants ayant des besoins spéciaux ainsi que des enfants qui ne présentent aucune difficulté majeure. Les enfants ayant une variété de conditions limitées fréquentent généralement ces programmes sans savoir comment maintenir une interaction de jeu avec leurs camarades. Cet article discute des dynamiques et du développement d’activités de jeu prosocial et suggère des formes par lesquelles l’éducatrice peut favoriser et permettre la participation des enfants ayant des besoins spéciaux.

Resumen

Las educadoras de párvulos atienden niños con necesidades especiales tanto como niños sin dificultades mayores. Los niños con una variedad de condiciones limitadas vienen generalmente a estos programas sin saber como entrar ni como mantener una interacción de juego con sus compañeros. Este artículo discute las dinámicas y el desarrollo de actividades de juego prosocial y sugiere formas en que las educadoras pueden facilitar y permitir la participación de los niños con necesidades especiales.

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Authors
  1. Sally M. Rogow
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Additional information

is a professor in and coordinator of the specialist program for teachers working with children who are blind, visually impaired and visually/multiply handicapped, Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Canada.

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Rogow, S.M. The dynamics of play: Including children with special needs in mainstreamed early childhood programs. IJEC 23, 50–57 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174617

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174617

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