Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In support of drama in early childhood education, again

Early Childhood Education Journal volume 27, pages 173–178 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Early childhood practitioners appear to be in an unending battle to legitimize the use of the dramatic arts in the classroom. Even early childhood educators who accept the value of dramatic play seldom utilize the potential of drama fully. The purpose of this article is to reinforce the value of drama and theater for young children. Dramatic play, creative drama, theater, and television—a form of drama — all have their place in the development of young children.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Abelman, R., & Courtright, J. (1982). Television literacy: Amplifying the cognitive level effects of television’s prosocial fare through curriculum intervention.Journal of Research and Development in Education, 17 (1), 46–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berghammer, G., Brown, V., Giffin, H., & Salazar, L. G. (1992). Social pretend play.American Alliance for Theatre and Education Technical Report #2

  • Christie, J. F. (1990). Dramatic play: A context for meaningful engagements.The Reading Teacher, 43, 542–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, J. F., & Johnsen, E. P. (1983). The role of play in social-intellectual development.Review of Educational Research, 53(1), 93–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, P. (1985). Towards dramatic literacy: A position paper.Children’s Theatre Review, 34(4), 3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, W. A., Sobol, B. L., & Westby, S. (1981). Effects of adult commentary on children’s comprehension and inferences about a televised aggressive portrayal.Child Development, 52, 158–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dezseran, C., & Katz, B. M. (1985). Theatre-in-Education and child sexual abuse: A descriptive study.Children’s Theatre Review, 34(4), 7–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fields, M. V., & Hillstead, D. V. (1990). Whole language in the play store.Childhood Education, 67(2), 73–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forge, K., & Phemister, S. (1987). The effect of prosocial cartoons on preschool children.Child Study Journal, 17(2), 83–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • French, J. (1987). A historical study of children’s heroes and fantasy play. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED310885)

  • Giffin, H. (1990). To say and not to say: Skills of dramatic play.Youth Theatre Journal, 5(2), 14–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, J. M. (1990). Chaos on Sesame Street: Does this carnival of images help students read?American Educator, 14(4), 22–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, L. C., & Shanker, J. L. (1978). The use of interpretive dramatics versus basal reader workbooks for developing comprehension skills.Reading World, 17, 239–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollenbeck, A. R., & Slaby, R. G. (1982). Influence of televised model’s vocalization pattern on infants.Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 3, 57–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howe, N., Moller, L. & Petrakos, H. (1993). The ecology of dramatic play centers and children’s social and cognitive play.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 8, 235–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huston, A. C., Watkins, B. A., & Kunkel, D. (1989). Public policy and children’s television.American Psychologist, 44, 424–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, N. C., & McCain, T. A. (1982). Television games preschool children play: Patterns, themes and uses.Journal of Broadcasting, 26, 783–800.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kardash, C. A. M., & Wright, L. (1987). Does creative drama benefit elementary school students: A meta-analysis.Youth Theatre Journal, 1(3), 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labbo, L. D. (1998). Social studies “play” in kindergarten.Social Studies and the Young Learner, 10(4), 18–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemish, D., & Rice, M. L. (1986). Television as a talking picture book: A prop for language acquisition.Journal of Child Language, 13, 251–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, A. K., Wolfgang, C. H., & Koorland, M. A. (1992). Sociodramatic play as a method for enhancing the language performance of kindergarten age students.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 7, 245–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorimier, S., Doyle, A., & Tessier, O. (1995). Social coordination during pretend play: Comparisons with nonpretend play and effects on expressive content.Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 41, 497–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malone, D. M., Stoneman, Z., & Langone, J. (1994). Contextual variation of correspondences among measures of play and developmental level of preschool children with cognitive delays.Journal of Early Intervention, 18, 199–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFarland, S. L. (1992). Extending “The Neighborhood” to child care. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED351136)

  • Moore, B. H., & Caldwell, H. (1990). The art of planning: Drama as rehearsal for writing in the primary grades.Youth Theatre Journal, 4(3), 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Theatre Education Project. (1986).A model drama/theatre curriculum. Tempe, Arizona: American Association of Theatre for Youth and American Association for Theatre in Secondary Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogura, T. (1991). A longitudinal study of the relationship between early language development and play development.Journal of Child Language, 18, 273–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrini, A. D. (1980). The relationship between kindergartners’ play and achievement in prereading, language, and writing.Psychology in the Schools, 17, 530–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritch, P. (1983). A good substitute for recess in winter.Children’s Theatre Review, 32(4), 3–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothlein, L., & Brett, A. (1984). Children’s, teachers’ and parents’ perceptions of play. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 273 3395)

  • Saldaña, J. (1989). A quantitative analysis of children’s responses to theatre from probing questions: A pilot study.Youth Theatre Journal, 3(4), 7–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, J. L., & Singer, D. G. (1981).Television, imagination, and aggression: A study of preschoolers. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smilansky, S. (1968).The effects of sociodramatic play on disadvantaged preschool children. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smilansky, S. (1990). In E. Klugman & S. Smilansky (Eds.),Children’s play and learning: Perspectives and policy implications. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewig, J. W. (1984) Teacher’s perceptions of creative drama in the elementary classroom.Children’s Theatre Review, 33(2), 27–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taharally, L. C. (1991). Fantasy play, language and cognitive ability of four-year-old children in Guyana, South America.Child Study Journal, 21(1), 37–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tregoning, J. (1986). The effects of television on children. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED286577)

  • Verriour, P. (1985). Face to face: Negotiating meaning through drama.Theory Into Practice, 24, 181–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitz, K. (1983). A review of empirical research in drama and language.Children’s Theatre Review, 32(4), 17–26.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SMTA, Washington State University, 99164-2432, Pullman, Washington

    Lou Furman

Authors
  1. Lou Furman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lou Furman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Furman, L. In support of drama in early childhood education, again. Early Childhood Educ J 27, 173–178 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02694231

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02694231

Key words

search

Navigation