Effects of classroom age composition on the play and social behaviors of preschool children

Mixed-Age Interactions in Family Child Care

“…The analyses of mixed-age interactions and children's development are consistent with other studies (Howes & Farver, 1987;Rothstein-Fisch & Howes, 1988;Urberg & Kaplan, 1986) fmding developmental advantages to interaction with older peers. In this study, that advantage was seen most clearly in the complexity of children's cognitive play.…”

“…Complex play behaviors, such as associative, cooperative and dramatic play, have been displayed with greater frequency by preschool-age children in mixed-age settings than in same-age settings. This has been most striking for the younger children in the mixed-age setting (Mounts & Roopnarine, 1987;Urberg & Kaplan, 1986). Toddlers were observed to engage in more complex social play when their play partners were older peers rather than same-age peers (Howes & Farver, 1987).…”

“…Specifically, preschool children have been observed to exhibit a lower incidence of parallel play in mixed-age classrooms compared to their counterparts in same-age classrooms (Goldman, 1981;Urberg & Kaplan, 1986).…”

“…Task orientation has been found to be similar in both mixed-age and same-age dyads (Lougee, et al, 1979). Younger children have been the recipients of more hostility fiom their older peers in mixed-age settings (Urberg & Kaplan, 1986).…”

“…This interaction can only occur if children of mixed-ages are present, i. e., available. Indeed, children in mixed-age settings have been found to play more often with older peers than children in same-age settings (Urberg & Kaplan, 1986) where older peers are less available. Acknowledging the potential importance of availability, some studies have controlled for it in analyses of mixed-age interactions (e.g., Goldman, 1981Roopnarine, et al, 1992.…”