The purpose of this essay is to examine some teachers' reflections on the importance of mathematics in preschool and the importance of language, communication and conceptualization in children's mathematics learning. The study's methodology is based on a qualitative approach, where I interviewed four teachers who work with the 6 -year-olds in two different municipal schools. The study shows the importance of language and communication in mathematics learning. It also shows the importance of the teacher's attitude as well as the educational environment to capture children's curiosity and interest.   Purpose and Issues: The purpose of this study is to investigate some pedagogue’s descriptions of mathematics in the preschool class. The study is also interested in how teachers describe their efforts to capture the children's curiosity and interest in mathematics.  My questions that I decided to start from in my study are as follows: How children learn mathematics in everyday life according to the teachers? How do teachers captures and highlights children's curiosity and interest in mathematics?

In the current study children 3-5 years of age (N = 75) participated in a mental state task to investigate the effect of action saliency on young children's appreciation of mental states during pretend play activities. They also engaged in a parent-child interaction period, including storybook reading and pretend play activities, in order to examine the relation between mental state term utterances and performance on the mental state task. Two actors appeared side-by-side on a television screen, either in motion or as static images; one actor had knowledge of the animal he was pretending to be; the other actor did not have the same knowledge. The actors' behaviors were identical and related to the behavior of the animal, identical and unrelated, or the knowledgeable actor behaved contradictory to the animal's behavior while the unknowledgeable actor behaved appropriately for that animal. Children were asked to select the actor who was pretending to be the animal. Children selected the appropriate knowledgeable actor significantly more often than a non-knowledgeable actor. Older children performed better than younger children. Children's performance was unaffected by whether actors were shown in motion as compared to simply a static image. Children performed most successfully on trials where actors were both engaged in behaviors unrelated to the animal's behavior and poorest when the actor's behavior was contradictory to his knowledge. The mental state utterances of parents and children were correlated with the children's performance on the mental state task. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed parent's mental state utterances used during the parent-child interactions - specifically cognitive terms and modulations of assertion - were predictive of their children's performance on the mental state task. The current study's results support an understanding of the mind in pretend play activities by some children younger than five years of age and this understanding may be influenced by their parents' use of mental state language. Children who do not do well in appreciating that the mind is essential during pretense activities may have difficulty inhibiting responding to action, thus interfering with their ability to maintain focus on the mental state of the pretender.

In a sample of 57 two-parent families, the current study investigated: (a) mother-father differences in observed autonomy supportive and control behaviours (i.e., directives and negative, parent-centered control); and (b) mothers and fathers unique and relative contributions to childrens later social-emotional competence. Parents behaviours were assessed during an observed clean-up task with mother-child and father-child dyads when children were 2 to 3-and-a half years of age. Parent ratings of childrens social-emotional competence were obtained one year later, when children were 3 to 5-and-a-half years old. Results revealed that mothers engaged in significantly more autonomy support than fathers when observed interacting with their young children. Furthermore, mothers negative, parent-centered control, and fathers autonomy support uniquely predicted childrens later social-emotional competence. These results suggest that mothers and fathers have differential influences on their young childrens growing competences, and exemplify the importance of including fathers in parenting research and intervention. / Psychological Studies in Education

A obesidade na infância está relacionada à obesidade e outras doenças crônicas na adolescência e na vida adulta. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi estudar a prevalência e os fatores associados ao sobrepeso em pré-escolares matriculados em escolas públicas dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e de Santa Catarina. Realizou-se estudo transversal com pré-escolares, com idade entre 4 e 6 anos, matriculados em escolas públicas atendidas pelo PNAE nos estados do RS e SC. O desfecho estudado foi o sobrepeso, definido através do escore Z > 2DP para o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC)/idade, em comparação com a população de referência da OMS 2006/2007. As medidas antropométricas de massa corporal e altura foram aferidas em duplicata, utilizando-se técnicas padronizadas conforme OMS (WHO, 1995). As variáveis de sexo, idade, massa corporal e altura da criança foram aferidas na escola. A cor da pele foi obtida pela observação e classificada como branca, parda e negra. O peso ao nascimento, a escolaridade materna e o tempo de aleitamento materno total foram obtidos por informação materna. Dados foram duplamente digitados utilizando o software EPI-INFO versão 6.04. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas através do programa STATA versão 12.0. Realizaram-se análises descritivas dos dados, com cálculo de frequências absolutas e relativas. A associação entre as variáveis foi avaliada pelo teste qui-quadrado de Pearson. Nas variáveis dicotômicas, a correção de Yates foi utilizada. As variáveis que apresentaram um valor de p W 0,25 na análise bivariada foram incluídas no modelo multivariado de Regressão de Poisson. A medida de efeito utilizada foi a Razão de Prevalências com o intervalo de 95% de confiança para estimar a magnitude do efeito. Avaliaram-se 4.936 crianças (no estado do RS 2.599 e em SC 2.337) em 14 municípios (8 no RS e 6 em SC). As prevalências de sobrepeso foram de 14,4% e 7,5%, respectivamente nos estados do RS e SC. As variáveis que apresentam associação com a prevalência de sobrepeso nos pré-escolares são: o número de moradores no domicílio, a escolaridade materna, a situação conjugal, o número de filhos, a idade materna ao nascimento do primeiro filho e o peso ao nascer. / Childhood obesity is related to overweight and other chronic diseases in adolescence and in adulthood. The general objective of this work was to study the prevalence and factors associated with obesity in preschool children enrolled in public schools of the States of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC). A cross-sectional study was conducted with preschoolers, aged between 4 and 6 years old, enrolled in public schools serviced by PNAE (National Program of School Nutrition) in the States of RS and SC. The outcome was overweight, defined by the Z > 2SD score for the body mass index (BMI)/age, in comparison with the reference population of the WHO 2006/2007. Anthropometric measures of body mass and height were measured in duplicate, using standardized techniques according to the WHO (WHO, 1995). The variables of gender, age, body mass and height of the child were measured at school. Skin color was obtained by observation and classified as white, brown and black. The birth weight, mother’s schooling and total breastfeeding time were obtained by information given by the mother. Data were doubly typed using EPI-INFO version 6.04. The statistical analyses were performed through the STATA version 12.0. Descriptive analyses of the data, with calculation of absolute and relative frequencies were performed. The association between the variables was evaluated by the Chi-square Pearson Test. In dichotomous variables, Yates correction was used. The variables which presented a value of p W 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate Poisson regression model. The measure of effect used was the Reason of Prevalence with a range of 95% of confidence to estimate the magnitude of the effect. Four thousand and nine hundred thirty six children (2,599 in RS and 2,337 in SC) in 14 municipalities (8 in RS and 6 in SC) were assessed. The prevalence of obesity was 14.4% and 7.5%, respectively, in the States of RS and SC. The variables which have association with the prevalence of obesity in preschoolers are: the number of residents at home, mother’s schooling, marital status, number of children, mother’s age at the birth of the first child, as well as, birth weight.

Proposição: o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, após doze meses, qualitativamente o desempenho clínico e o tempo gasto na execução de 86 restaurações atraumáticas realizadas em pré-escolares de creches comunitárias do município de Porto Alegre, utilizando o cimento de ionômero de vidro de alta viscosidade (Vitro- Molar/DFL). Metodologia: foram selecionadas 42 crianças com necessidades restauradoras, inseridas em um programa educativo-preventivo. As respectivas restaurações foram avaliadas seguindo os critérios USPHS modificado e analisadas estatisticamente pelo teste não paramétrico Mann- Whitney (p<0,05). Resultados: encontrou-se 94,2% de retenção das restaurações envolvendo uma ou mais superfícies em dentes decíduos. O tempo médio despendido para execução da restauração foi de 4,47 minutos segundo análise de variância. Conclusão: concluí-se que as restaurações atraumáticas são indicadas para serem utilizadas em pré-escolares, por apresentarem um bom desempenho clínico e agilidade no atendimento. / Objective: the aim of the present study was to qualitatively assess the clinical performance, after 12 months, of 86 atraumatic restorations bonded with highviscosity glass ionomer cement (Vitro-Molar/DFL), in preschoolers from Porto Alegre-based day care centers, in southern Brazil, and also to assess the length of the treatment. Methods: a total of 42 children who required restorative treatment were selected from a preventive educational program. The restorations were assessed using the modified USPHS criteria and statistically analyzed by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05). Results: the restorations on one or more surfaces of deciduous teeth had a retention rate of 94.2%. According to the analysis of variance, the length of restorative treatment averaged 4.47 minutes. Conclusion: atraumatic restorations are recommended in preschoolers, since they have a good clinical performance and allow prompt treatment.

A obesidade na infância está relacionada à obesidade e outras doenças crônicas na adolescência e na vida adulta. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi estudar a prevalência e os fatores associados ao sobrepeso em pré-escolares matriculados em escolas públicas dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e de Santa Catarina. Realizou-se estudo transversal com pré-escolares, com idade entre 4 e 6 anos, matriculados em escolas públicas atendidas pelo PNAE nos estados do RS e SC. O desfecho estudado foi o sobrepeso, definido através do escore Z > 2DP para o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC)/idade, em comparação com a população de referência da OMS 2006/2007. As medidas antropométricas de massa corporal e altura foram aferidas em duplicata, utilizando-se técnicas padronizadas conforme OMS (WHO, 1995). As variáveis de sexo, idade, massa corporal e altura da criança foram aferidas na escola. A cor da pele foi obtida pela observação e classificada como branca, parda e negra. O peso ao nascimento, a escolaridade materna e o tempo de aleitamento materno total foram obtidos por informação materna. Dados foram duplamente digitados utilizando o software EPI-INFO versão 6.04. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas através do programa STATA versão 12.0. Realizaram-se análises descritivas dos dados, com cálculo de frequências absolutas e relativas. A associação entre as variáveis foi avaliada pelo teste qui-quadrado de Pearson. Nas variáveis dicotômicas, a correção de Yates foi utilizada. As variáveis que apresentaram um valor de p W 0,25 na análise bivariada foram incluídas no modelo multivariado de Regressão de Poisson. A medida de efeito utilizada foi a Razão de Prevalências com o intervalo de 95% de confiança para estimar a magnitude do efeito. Avaliaram-se 4.936 crianças (no estado do RS 2.599 e em SC 2.337) em 14 municípios (8 no RS e 6 em SC). As prevalências de sobrepeso foram de 14,4% e 7,5%, respectivamente nos estados do RS e SC. As variáveis que apresentam associação com a prevalência de sobrepeso nos pré-escolares são: o número de moradores no domicílio, a escolaridade materna, a situação conjugal, o número de filhos, a idade materna ao nascimento do primeiro filho e o peso ao nascer. / Childhood obesity is related to overweight and other chronic diseases in adolescence and in adulthood. The general objective of this work was to study the prevalence and factors associated with obesity in preschool children enrolled in public schools of the States of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC). A cross-sectional study was conducted with preschoolers, aged between 4 and 6 years old, enrolled in public schools serviced by PNAE (National Program of School Nutrition) in the States of RS and SC. The outcome was overweight, defined by the Z > 2SD score for the body mass index (BMI)/age, in comparison with the reference population of the WHO 2006/2007. Anthropometric measures of body mass and height were measured in duplicate, using standardized techniques according to the WHO (WHO, 1995). The variables of gender, age, body mass and height of the child were measured at school. Skin color was obtained by observation and classified as white, brown and black. The birth weight, mother’s schooling and total breastfeeding time were obtained by information given by the mother. Data were doubly typed using EPI-INFO version 6.04. The statistical analyses were performed through the STATA version 12.0. Descriptive analyses of the data, with calculation of absolute and relative frequencies were performed. The association between the variables was evaluated by the Chi-square Pearson Test. In dichotomous variables, Yates correction was used. The variables which presented a value of p W 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate Poisson regression model. The measure of effect used was the Reason of Prevalence with a range of 95% of confidence to estimate the magnitude of the effect. Four thousand and nine hundred thirty six children (2,599 in RS and 2,337 in SC) in 14 municipalities (8 in RS and 6 in SC) were assessed. The prevalence of obesity was 14.4% and 7.5%, respectively, in the States of RS and SC. The variables which have association with the prevalence of obesity in preschoolers are: the number of residents at home, mother’s schooling, marital status, number of children, mother’s age at the birth of the first child, as well as, birth weight.

Introdução: A prevalência de obesidade na população infantil está atingindo proporções epidêmicas no Brasil, assim como em outros países em desenvolvimento. Considerando que crianças obesas têm maior probabilidade de apresentarem excesso de peso e doenças crônicas não transmissíveis na adolescência e na vida adulta comparadas às eutróficas, este novo perfil epidemiológico exige constante monitoramento tanto do setor saúde como dos atores educacionais. Assim, o presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a variação temporal do excesso de peso de crianças matriculadas nas 34 Escolas Municipais de Educação Infantil (EMEIs) de turno integral de Porto Alegre/RS de 2006 a 2013 e sua relação com os cardápios oferecidos na alimentação escolar. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo longitudinal de base escolar. A população em estudo foi constituída por crianças de ambos os sexos com idades entre dois e sete anos, que foram avaliadas pelo menos duas vezes entre 2006 e 2013. As coletas de peso e estatura foram realizadas como procedimento de rotina nas EMEIs por nutricionistas. A classificação do estado nutricional das crianças foi realizada através dos escores-z de Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) para a idade, conforme as curvas de crescimento da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) 2006/2007. O desfecho excesso de peso foi definido como valores maiores ao escore-z +1. A análise dos cardápios oferecidos na alimentação escolar foi realizada através da verificação da frequência semanal de alimentos marcadores de alimentação saudável e não saudável, sendo calculado o índice de qualidade dos cardápios que variou de 0 a 11. Análise multinível com medidas repetidas foi utilizada para verificar as associações entre o desfecho e as variáveis de exposição. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 7.580 crianças (52,1% do sexo masculino), totalizando 22.242 avaliações antropométricas. As prevalências de excesso de peso foram de 31,3% em 2006; 30,1% em 2007; 31,9% em 2008; 32,9% em 2009; 34,4% em 2010; 34,9% em 2011; 36,6% em 2012 e 40,2% em 2013. Quanto à qualidade dos cardápios, a menor média de pontuação foi nos anos de 2007 e 2009 (6,71 pontos) e a maior foi em 2013 (8,89 pontos). Sexo e idade foram associados ao excesso de peso. Considerando a associação entre índice de qualidade dos cardápios e excesso de peso, a medida que aumentava 0,5 pontos no cardápio, a chance da criança apresentar excesso de peso era 4% maior (IC 95%: 1,02-1,06). Conclusões: Percebe-se que, apesar da melhora no índice de qualidade dos cardápios escolares de 2006 a 2013, houve um aumento relativo de 33,5% da prevalência de excesso de peso nas crianças matriculadas nas EMEIs de turno integral de Porto Alegre. É possível que este aumento esteja sendo influenciado não somente pela qualidade dos cardápios, mas por outros fatores como, a quantidade de alimento consumida por refeição e pela qualidade da alimentação que as crianças estão recebendo fora do ambiente escolar. / Introduction: The prevalence of obesity in children is reaching epidemic proportions in Brazil, as well as in other developing countries. Obese children have more risk of overweight and chronic diseases in adolescence and adulthood than non obese children. This new epidemiological profile requires constant monitoring by heath and educational systems. This study aims to evaluate the temporal variation of overweight children enrolled in 34 Public Schools of Early Childhood Education in Porto Alegre/RS (2006-2013) and its association with menus offered in school meals. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study of scholar population. The sample included children of both sexes, aged between two and seven years and with at least twice anthropometric evaluation between 2006 and 2013. The measures of weight and height were carried out as a routine procedure in Public Schools of Early Childhood Education conducted by nutritionists. Z-scores for body mass index (BMI) by age, according to the growth curves of the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006/2007, were used for nutritional status classification. Overweight outcome was defined as values higher than z-score +1. The analysis of the menus offered in school meals was carried out by checking the weekly frequency of eating healthy and unhealthy foods, and we calculated the menus quality index, ranging from 0 to 11. Multilevel analysis with repeated measures was used to assess relationship between outcome and exposure variables. Results: 7,580 children were assessed (52.1% male), including 22,242 anthropometric evaluations. Overweight prevalence were 31.3% in 2006; 30.1% in 2007; 31.9% in 2008; 32.9% in 2009; 34.4% in 2010; 34.9% in 2011; 36.6% in 2012 and 40.2% in 2013. The quality index of the scholar menus had the lowest average score in 2007 and 2009 (6.71 points) and the highest in 2013 (8.89 points). Sex and age were associated with overweight. Considering the quality index score of menus an increase of 0.5 points on the menu score, the chance of being overweight was 4% higher (CI95%: 1.02-1.06). Conclusions: Although improvement in the quality index of school menus from 2006 to 2013, there was a relative increase of 33.5% in the prevalence of overweight in children enrolled in the Public Schools of Early Childhood Education of Porto Alegre/RS. These data pointed that the increasing overweight prevalence may be influenced not only by quality index menus improvement, but by other factors like as food intake quantity per meal and food consumption outside of school.

Introdução: A prevalência de obesidade na população infantil está atingindo proporções epidêmicas no Brasil, assim como em outros países em desenvolvimento. Considerando que crianças obesas têm maior probabilidade de apresentarem excesso de peso e doenças crônicas não transmissíveis na adolescência e na vida adulta comparadas às eutróficas, este novo perfil epidemiológico exige constante monitoramento tanto do setor saúde como dos atores educacionais. Assim, o presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a variação temporal do excesso de peso de crianças matriculadas nas 34 Escolas Municipais de Educação Infantil (EMEIs) de turno integral de Porto Alegre/RS de 2006 a 2013 e sua relação com os cardápios oferecidos na alimentação escolar. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo longitudinal de base escolar. A população em estudo foi constituída por crianças de ambos os sexos com idades entre dois e sete anos, que foram avaliadas pelo menos duas vezes entre 2006 e 2013. As coletas de peso e estatura foram realizadas como procedimento de rotina nas EMEIs por nutricionistas. A classificação do estado nutricional das crianças foi realizada através dos escores-z de Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) para a idade, conforme as curvas de crescimento da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) 2006/2007. O desfecho excesso de peso foi definido como valores maiores ao escore-z +1. A análise dos cardápios oferecidos na alimentação escolar foi realizada através da verificação da frequência semanal de alimentos marcadores de alimentação saudável e não saudável, sendo calculado o índice de qualidade dos cardápios que variou de 0 a 11. Análise multinível com medidas repetidas foi utilizada para verificar as associações entre o desfecho e as variáveis de exposição. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 7.580 crianças (52,1% do sexo masculino), totalizando 22.242 avaliações antropométricas. As prevalências de excesso de peso foram de 31,3% em 2006; 30,1% em 2007; 31,9% em 2008; 32,9% em 2009; 34,4% em 2010; 34,9% em 2011; 36,6% em 2012 e 40,2% em 2013. Quanto à qualidade dos cardápios, a menor média de pontuação foi nos anos de 2007 e 2009 (6,71 pontos) e a maior foi em 2013 (8,89 pontos). Sexo e idade foram associados ao excesso de peso. Considerando a associação entre índice de qualidade dos cardápios e excesso de peso, a medida que aumentava 0,5 pontos no cardápio, a chance da criança apresentar excesso de peso era 4% maior (IC 95%: 1,02-1,06). Conclusões: Percebe-se que, apesar da melhora no índice de qualidade dos cardápios escolares de 2006 a 2013, houve um aumento relativo de 33,5% da prevalência de excesso de peso nas crianças matriculadas nas EMEIs de turno integral de Porto Alegre. É possível que este aumento esteja sendo influenciado não somente pela qualidade dos cardápios, mas por outros fatores como, a quantidade de alimento consumida por refeição e pela qualidade da alimentação que as crianças estão recebendo fora do ambiente escolar. / Introduction: The prevalence of obesity in children is reaching epidemic proportions in Brazil, as well as in other developing countries. Obese children have more risk of overweight and chronic diseases in adolescence and adulthood than non obese children. This new epidemiological profile requires constant monitoring by heath and educational systems. This study aims to evaluate the temporal variation of overweight children enrolled in 34 Public Schools of Early Childhood Education in Porto Alegre/RS (2006-2013) and its association with menus offered in school meals. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study of scholar population. The sample included children of both sexes, aged between two and seven years and with at least twice anthropometric evaluation between 2006 and 2013. The measures of weight and height were carried out as a routine procedure in Public Schools of Early Childhood Education conducted by nutritionists. Z-scores for body mass index (BMI) by age, according to the growth curves of the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006/2007, were used for nutritional status classification. Overweight outcome was defined as values higher than z-score +1. The analysis of the menus offered in school meals was carried out by checking the weekly frequency of eating healthy and unhealthy foods, and we calculated the menus quality index, ranging from 0 to 11. Multilevel analysis with repeated measures was used to assess relationship between outcome and exposure variables. Results: 7,580 children were assessed (52.1% male), including 22,242 anthropometric evaluations. Overweight prevalence were 31.3% in 2006; 30.1% in 2007; 31.9% in 2008; 32.9% in 2009; 34.4% in 2010; 34.9% in 2011; 36.6% in 2012 and 40.2% in 2013. The quality index of the scholar menus had the lowest average score in 2007 and 2009 (6.71 points) and the highest in 2013 (8.89 points). Sex and age were associated with overweight. Considering the quality index score of menus an increase of 0.5 points on the menu score, the chance of being overweight was 4% higher (CI95%: 1.02-1.06). Conclusions: Although improvement in the quality index of school menus from 2006 to 2013, there was a relative increase of 33.5% in the prevalence of overweight in children enrolled in the Public Schools of Early Childhood Education of Porto Alegre/RS. These data pointed that the increasing overweight prevalence may be influenced not only by quality index menus improvement, but by other factors like as food intake quantity per meal and food consumption outside of school.

Proposição: o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, após doze meses, qualitativamente o desempenho clínico e o tempo gasto na execução de 86 restaurações atraumáticas realizadas em pré-escolares de creches comunitárias do município de Porto Alegre, utilizando o cimento de ionômero de vidro de alta viscosidade (Vitro- Molar/DFL). Metodologia: foram selecionadas 42 crianças com necessidades restauradoras, inseridas em um programa educativo-preventivo. As respectivas restaurações foram avaliadas seguindo os critérios USPHS modificado e analisadas estatisticamente pelo teste não paramétrico Mann- Whitney (p<0,05). Resultados: encontrou-se 94,2% de retenção das restaurações envolvendo uma ou mais superfícies em dentes decíduos. O tempo médio despendido para execução da restauração foi de 4,47 minutos segundo análise de variância. Conclusão: concluí-se que as restaurações atraumáticas são indicadas para serem utilizadas em pré-escolares, por apresentarem um bom desempenho clínico e agilidade no atendimento. / Objective: the aim of the present study was to qualitatively assess the clinical performance, after 12 months, of 86 atraumatic restorations bonded with highviscosity glass ionomer cement (Vitro-Molar/DFL), in preschoolers from Porto Alegre-based day care centers, in southern Brazil, and also to assess the length of the treatment. Methods: a total of 42 children who required restorative treatment were selected from a preventive educational program. The restorations were assessed using the modified USPHS criteria and statistically analyzed by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05). Results: the restorations on one or more surfaces of deciduous teeth had a retention rate of 94.2%. According to the analysis of variance, the length of restorative treatment averaged 4.47 minutes. Conclusion: atraumatic restorations are recommended in preschoolers, since they have a good clinical performance and allow prompt treatment.

abstract: This study investigated the effects of different types of play-embedded instruction on preschoolers' vocabulary learning during a vocabulary intervention known as Say-Tell-Do-Play (STDP). The goal of this study was to determine whether or not two types of play - Story Drama and a Vocabulary Matching Game - enhanced the effectiveness of the STDP strategy. To investigate this goal, the researcher implemented the STDP instructional routine for 17 children with three different picture books and their corresponding play activities and a control condition (Drawing) in a counterbalanced order. Descriptive statistics were utilized to understand the effects of these different play activities on the children's receptive and expressive vocabulary learning. Findings showed that the STDP vocabulary instructional strategy had a much larger impact on children's receptive vocabulary than on expressive vocabulary learning. The play activities did not seem to make much difference in the learning of receptive and expressive vocabulary. The results indicated that the STDP strategy is an effective way to teach receptive vocabulary. There was a lack of evidence that the different types of play significantly affected children's vocabulary learning. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction 2012