A method for observing young children's make-believe play

Anne Robertson

Treesearch

A method for observing young children's make-believe play

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Anne Robertson

Year:

1977

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: Children, Nature, and the Urban Environment: Proceedings of a Symposium-Fair; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-30. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 136-141

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Abstract

The influence of toy "realisticness" on the make-believe play of 20- and 26-month old boys and girls was studied by recording their play behaviors when they were presented with specific toys and play suggestions. Results indicate that age changes in make-believe play with the less realistic toys reflect increased competence in symbolic transformation, whereas age changes in play with the more realistic toys reflect social learning, which may differ for boys and girls.

Parent Publication

Children, nature, and the urban environment: proceedings of a symposium-fair

Citation

Robertson, Anne. 1977. A method for observing young children's make-believe play. In: Children, Nature, and the Urban Environment: Proceedings of a Symposium-Fair; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-30. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 136-141