ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the observation of children's triadic play. It deals with research on peer cultures, which has been insightful in describing rituals for gaining entry into ongoing interactions. The chapter examines the psychological literature on triadic play that highlights the qualitative features of three-party play. It provides method and some results from observational research on triadic play among Italian children 3 to 6 years of age. Through long and participative ethnographic research in American and Italian early childhood settings, W. A. Corsaro developed the interpretive reproduction approach, which turned out to be particularly effective in capturing the innovative and creative aspects of children's participation in their relational worlds. The field of observational research on triadic interactions in play situations has typically considered different types of play. The chapter investigates the competence of young children during triadic interactive play.
