Knowledge Tree
pretend play
Also known as: make-believe play
Facts (43)
Sources
Play: Learning through play child-encyclopedia.com Mar 23, 2023 10 facts
claimObject play in babies involves mouthing and dropping objects, whereas in toddlers it involves manipulating objects or engaging in pretend play.
claimWhile the benefits of pretend play for theory of mind are plausible, current experimental evidence is limited, and correlational evidence suggests that social pretend play is only one route to acquiring theory of mind.
claimPlay therapists use pretend play techniques to understand children's anxieties, with most therapists believing that this helps the child work towards a resolution of those anxieties.
claimOne hypothesis is that pretend play enhances emotional security by allowing children to work through anxieties, such as parental arguments or family illness, by acting out these themes.
claimSociodramatic play, which is common from around 3 years of age, is defined as pretend play with others that involves sustained role taking and a narrative line.
referenceNicolopoulou A (2019) wrote 'Pretend and social pretend play: Complexities, continuities, and controversies of a research field', published in 'The Cambridge Handbook of Play'.
referenceLillard AS, Lerner MD, Hopkins EJ, Dore RA, Smith ED, and Palmquist CM (2013) published 'The impact of pretend play on children’s development: A review of the evidence', which evaluates the developmental effects of pretend play.
perspectiveMore high-quality studies and evidence are required to confidently determine the specific benefits of pretend play.
claimPretend play is defined as the act of pretending that an object or an action is something other than what it actually is.
claimPretend play in children begins to develop at 15 months of age with simple actions, such as pretending to sleep or putting a doll to bed, and evolves into longer story sequences and role play.
Play it Forward: Lasting Effects of Pretend Play in Early ... fau.edu Sep 19, 2024 9 facts
claimPretend play occurs voluntarily and spontaneously, typically when an individual is relaxed and not under stress, and it usually lacks an immediate practical purpose.
quote“In the context of pretend play, skills encompass imagination, the ability to think about possibilities that differ from reality, mental time travel, and imitation, among other symbolic capabilities.”
claimDavid F. Bjorklund, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, describes pretend play in young children as a 'metaphoric multivitamin' for developing social skills and fostering creativity.
claimDavid Bjorklund asserts that pretend play is likely crucial for developing and refining psychological skills rather than being solely necessary for their initial emergence.
claimPretend play in early childhood is associated with enhanced cognitive abilities, including executive function, language, and perspective-taking, which are important for education.
quote“Pretend play is associated with a host of enhanced cognitive abilities such as executive function, language and perspective taking, which are important to education, making the minimization of pretend play unwise.”
perspectiveDavid F. Bjorklund argues that modern culture is ignoring the evolved wisdom of how best to educate young children, noting that natural selection shaped childhood for the acquisition of social-cognitive skills through pretend play.
claimDavid Bjorklund explains that pretend play functions as an experience-expectant process that enhances the brain's readiness for focused learning.
quote“These practices may not only make learning more arduous, but negatively impact children’s sense of autonomy with respect to learning. Pretend play evolved to enhance children’s acquisition and refinement of important cultural knowledge and skills during an extended juvenile period. The abilities needed by modern children have changed and may require new means of learning, but we should not lose sight of the substantial benefits that pretend play can still afford our species’ youngest members.”
25 Educational Benefits Of Play In Early Childhood Development klaschools.com 4 facts
claimLeading games, organizing pretend play scenarios, or making group decisions builds confidence, assertiveness, and the ability to inspire peers in toddlers, establishing a foundation for future leadership.
claimPretend play, involving role-playing activities, stimulates imagination, narrative thinking, and emotional processing in children.
claimPretend play involving the enactment of roles from various communities and traditions helps children build empathy, respect, and an appreciation for diversity.
claimPretend play scenarios provide a safe environment for children to express and process emotions such as anger, fear, and excitement.
The Role of Play in Child Development mtsinaicdc.org Apr 29, 2025 4 facts
claimImaginative or pretend play is a form of play that fosters creativity and cognitive development by allowing children to create stories, explore new ideas, and experiment with different roles and scenarios.
claimEngaging in activities like solving puzzles, building structures, and pretend play helps children develop logical thinking, memory, and reasoning skills by requiring them to approach challenges with creative solutions.
claimPretend play helps children develop narrative skills, language development, and vocabulary by encouraging them to create stories and scenarios.
claimPretend play helps children develop empathy by allowing them to take on different roles and imagine the world from different perspectives.
The Importance of Play for Children - National Institute for Play nifplay.org 4 facts
claimPlay fosters social skills and emotional resilience, and pretend play, such as doctor-patient scenarios, helps children develop empathy and emotional regulation, according to Singer & Singer (1990) and Russ (1988).
referenceRuss (2004) linked pretend play to enhanced creativity, demonstrating its vital role in cognitive development.
referenceVygotsky (1978) emphasized the role of pretend play in the development of self-regulation in children.
claimPretend or imaginative play, such as playing house or pretending to be a firefighter, allows children to exercise perspective-taking and problem-solving while adhering to self-imposed rules.
The Power of Play: How Fun and Games Help Children Thrive healthychildren.org May 3, 2023 3 facts
claimPretend play, such as dress-up and make-believe, allows young children to experiment with social roles, learn to cooperate, and build complex negotiation, communication, and language skills.
claimReading regularly to and with a child, encouraging pretend play based on stories, and asking children to predict story outcomes supports development in children aged 1 to 3 years.
claimProviding opportunities for make-believe play, such as pretending to drink from an empty cup, supports development in children aged 1 to 3 years.
Importance of Play in Early Childhood | HeadStart.gov headstart.gov Apr 1, 2024 2 facts
claimAdults participating in pretend play with children should ask open-ended questions, which do not have a specific answer and allow children to express their own ideas.
procedureAdults participating in pretend play with children should ask open-ended questions that allow for multiple answers, such as 'Where is your car going?' or 'What do you think happens next?'
The Role of Play in Cognitive and Emotional Development longdom.org 2 facts
claimExecutive functions are mental processes critical for self-control, focus, and planning, which are strengthened by pretend play.
claimPretend play, where children take on roles or invent scenarios, allows them to navigate social norms, practice empathy, and learn to organize and sequence events.
Power of Play in Early Childhood - AAP aap.org Dec 21, 2021 1 fact
procedurePreschoolers benefit from make-believe play (such as dress-up or feeding a doll), sorting everyday objects (such as kitchen utensils, cardboard boxes, or shoes), playing simple board games, and naming body parts during dressing.
How Kids Learn to Play: 6 Stages of Play Development - Pathways.org pathways.org Jul 18, 2025 1 fact
claimChildren who engage in imaginative 'play pretend' in safe environments learn to identify their emotions, discover their interests, and adapt to different situations.
The SAGE Handbook of Play and Learning in Early Childhood sk.sagepub.com 1 fact
claimLaura E. Berk's empirical studies have focused on the effects of school environments on children's development, the social origins and functional significance of children's private speech, and the role of make-believe play in the development of self-regulation.
The Role of Play in Cognitive Development cwcpediatrics.com Nov 17, 2025 1 fact
claimExamples of cognitive play activities include puzzles, memory games, building and construction toys, imaginative or pretend play, storytelling, sorting and matching games, games with rules, and collaborative play.
The Role of Play Based Learning in Early Childhood ... scieclouds.com 1 fact
referenceMohan, Celshiya, Karuppali, Bhat, and Anil (2022) argued for the necessity of both structured and free play in pre-schools in their article 'Pretend play in pre-schoolers: Need for structured and free play in pre-schools'.