Abstract: This article reviews the development of imagination and fantasy in early childhood. Imagination and fantasy are first observed in the pretend play of toddlers. At first, children's pretend play is initiated by parents and siblings, but by age 3 years, children often generate their own play themes and participate in sophisticated role play with others. Preschool-aged children engage in both realistic role play and fantastical pretend play, develop beliefs in fantastical beings such as Santa Claus, and sometimes create imaginary companions. These imaginary worlds allow children to mentally rehearse social scenarios, which aids in developing an understanding of the world around them. Throughout the preschool years, children develop an increasingly rich understanding of the distinction between reality and fantasy.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 15
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot