More than just play: The significance of mutually directed adult‐child activity

Abstract

In much current writing on developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs, emphasis is laid on the importance for young children's development and learning of spontaneous, self‐initiated exploration and autonomous play (e.g. Bredekamp, 1987; Rogers & Sawyers, 1988. Adults are seen in this literature as setters of the stage for children and as responsive facilitators of children's activities. They are seldom seen as initiators of those activities or even particularly as co‐explorers with children. Yet there is evidence that where adults actively engage with children in mutual pursuits ‐‐ especially everyday, family‐style pursuits ‐‐ there is enhancement of children's social, emotional and cognitive development. Some of this evidence, drawn from both past and current studies, is presented. The paper reviews a number of factors that appear to lie behind the present emphasis, in early childhood programs, on child rather than adult direction of activity, especially play. The proposal is advan...