17 Explore More About Pretend Play
Interested in learning more about children’s pretend play? Explore one of the resources below to extend your thinking about this type of play.
- The Importance of Peer Interaction and Social Pretend Play by Carollee Howes (~39 minutes)
In this webinar from Head Start, Howes shares the precursors to pretend play that infants and toddlers explore and how these experiences support preschoolers’ pretend play. She also discusses how teachers can support social play.
- The Characteristics of Intentional, Mature, Make-Believe Play by Dr. Deborah J. Leong (~30 minutes)
In this webinar from Head Start, Leong shares information about mature play and how this type of play supports young children developing self regulation skills during pretend play.
- Play, Toys, Learning, and Understanding An Interview with Doris Bergen (~26 minute read)
In this interview in the American Play Journal, Doris Bergen shares about her experiences in early childhood classrooms as well as her research focused on how children engage in pretend play and why this type of play is important to children’s development.
- Reflections on Pretend Play, Imagination, and Child Development An Interview with Dorothy G. and Jerome L. Singer (~30 minute read)
In this interview in the American Play Journal, the Singers share 40 years of experience and research related to children’s pretend play as they discuss key developmental milestones of this type of play.
