Sociodramatic Play Vs Fantasy Play

Pretend Play
Pretend play is defined as “a symbolic behavior in which one thing is playfully treated as if it were something else” (Fein, 1989, p. 282). Subtypes of pretend play includes fantasy play and sociodramatic play. What distinguishes them is that sociodramatic play involves the pretense of real-life or potential experiences, while fantasy play has no boundaries.

Fantasy play is the make-believe world of children, where their imagination overrules any reality constrains. Pellegrini & Smith (1998a) refines this definition and included the use of actions, objects and verbalizations as characteristics of fantasy play. For example, a child straddling a log with hands spread out horizontally imitating an airplane, and making engine sounds …show more content…
In his qualitative examination of preschooler’s conversations, he noted that children used sociodramatic play as a way to resolve real-world anxieties, like the example mentioned above. Children draw upon both real life experiences and imagination to overcome their anxieties. However, Rosenberg (1983) examined the content and quality of sociodramatic play in relation to early attachment, and proposes that individual differences influences the function of sociodramatic play, and emotional mastery may not be the definite outcome. Children who are securely attached tend to cooperate with each other better, and are also able to successfully invent positive resolutions to resolve their anxiety, but children whom are less securely attached are unable to do so. It seems like emotional mastery through pretense is less available to those who need it …show more content…
It is thought that the characteristics of fantasy play mentioned prior, facilitated cognitive functions. Experimental studies has established a correlation between pretend play and creative cognitive processes, such as problem solving and divergent thinking. (D. Singer & J. Singer, 1990; Dansky, 1980; Vandenberg, 1980) Divergent thinking is when one comes up with different and unconventional ideas or solutions, what the layman would call “thinking-out-of-the-box” (Russ, 2004). Pretend play is a facilitator of divergent thinking, which encourages and develops creativity (Dansky, 1980). While engaging in pretend play, everyday objects and old ideas are given new life, for example a cardboard box can be an airplane or a pram. This develops cognitive flexibility, which aids in forming creative and new solutions while facing

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