Symbolic Levels of Early Pretense and Representational Thinking
Kim Yeong Sim , Lee Jong Hui
Abstract
The present study examined the symbolic levels of early pretense in 67 children from 19 to 48 months of age. Subjects were selected from 3 non-profit, play oriented daycare centers. Children were observed during free play. Age and sex differences were examined with 2-way ANOVA performed on case analyses of individual children. Results showed that the symbolic level of pretense increased with age, but no significant sex differences were found. Some children below 2 years of age showed high levels of symbolic play, presenting the possibility of high levels of representational thinking from this early age.