Symbolic play
Symbolic play is a common activity in the early childhood development stage, in which children use objects and symbolic actions to represent situations and abstract concepts.
Symbolic play, also known as imaginative or pretend play, is a type of play in which children use their imagination to create scenarios, situations, or stories that involve abstract or symbolic elements. During symbolic play, children often use objects, actions, and language to represent things and concepts that are not physically present. This form of play allows them to explore and understand the world around them, express their creativity, and develop cognitive and social skills.
In symbolic play, children might engage in activities such as pretending to be characters, role-playing, using objects to represent something else (e.g., using a stick as a sword or a cardboard box as a spaceship), or inventing imaginary scenarios. This type of play is essential for cognitive development as it helps children practice problem-solving, social interaction, language development, and the ability to understand and represent abstract ideas and concepts.
Through symbolic play, children develop mental representations of abstract concepts in various ways:
1. Object Manipulation: Children use concrete objects to represent other objects or people. For example, a child may use a doll to represent their sister or a piece of wood as a car. These mental representations allow the child to relate and associate different concepts.
2. Imitation: Children tend to imitate the behaviors and actions of people they observe in their environment. Through imitation, they can represent abstract concepts such as professions, family roles, or everyday situations. For example, a child may play the role of a doctor, using a white coat and a stethoscope, thus imitating the role and actions of a doctor.
Imitation and Mirror Neurons:
Mirror neurons are a special type of neurons that activate both when we perform an action and when we observe another person perform the same action. These neurons are found in brain areas like the motor cortex and the parietal cortex, and they play a significant role in children’s learning through imitation.
When a child observes someone performing an action, mirror neurons activate and allow them to mentally simulate that action in their own brain. This mental simulation helps the child understand and mentally represent the action they are witnessing, facilitating learning and imitation of that action in the future.
Mirror neurons are also involved in the development of empathy and understanding others’ intentions and emotions. By observing others’ actions, mirror neurons enable us to “put ourselves in their shoes” and understand their intentions and feelings. This is especially relevant in learning through imitation, as the child not only replicates the action itself but also the associated intention and emotional state.
Through the activation of mirror neurons, children can internalize and mentally represent others’ actions, enabling them to learn new skills and behaviors through observation and imitation. This is particularly important in the early developmental stage when children are exposed to adult models and primarily learn through observation and imitation.
3. Role Play: In role play, children take on different roles and act as if they were another person or a specific object. This allows them to explore and understand abstract concepts like social relationships, occupational roles, or family interactions. For example, children can play the roles of teachers, parents, astronauts, or superheroes, mentally representing the roles and characteristics associated with each of them.
4. Use of Words and Language: As children develop language skills, they also use language to create mental representations of abstract concepts. They can assign names and descriptions to imaginary objects or people during play, allowing them to communicate and share their mental representations with others.
5. Imagination and Creativity: Imagination and creativity are fundamental components of symbolic play. Children can invent stories, scenarios, and imaginary situations that represent abstract concepts. Through imagination, they create mental representations that enable them to explore and understand the world around them in a more abstract manner. For example, when a child plays with a shoe and pretends it’s a phone, suddenly, that shoe possesses the properties of a mobile phone. They can talk to their parents, friends, and even imaginary friends.
To what extent can we say that the child is aware that this play is not real, that they cannot really talk to their parents?
About the Blog:
This blog has been created by Dr. Jaume Guilera, a physician working in the field of learning disorders, with the intention of disseminating information about the most common cognitive disorders in children and adolescents. Learning disorders in children and adolescents are approached from a cognitive-behavioral perspective. Dr. Guilera collaborates with other professionals, including psychologists, educators, and physicians, to address each case individually based on its needs. He primarily works with learning disorders (dyslexia, dyscalculia, reading comprehension) and neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, autism).
Additionally, he collaborates with the University of Barcelona as a practice supervisor and engages in educational and informative activities through various blogs, authoring books, and advising different schools in the Barcelona area.
Contact Information:
https://blog.mentelex.com/dr-jaume-guilera/
Ours books in Spanish to train executive functions:
There are several excellent books that explore the concept of symbolic play and its significance in child development.
Here are some of the best books on this topic:
1. “The Art of Pretend Play: A Psychological Perspective” by Anthony D. Pellegrini
– This book delves into the psychological aspects of pretend play, discussing its role in cognitive and social development. It provides a comprehensive overview of research findings on pretend play and its importance.
2. “Pretend Play as Improvisation: Conversation in the Preschool Classroom” by Inge Marianne Toft and Anna-Lena Østern
– Focusing on the classroom setting, this book explores the connection between pretend play and language development. It highlights the importance of pretend play as a tool for enhancing children’s communication skills.
3. “Symbolic Play: The Development of Social Understanding” by Susan A. Rosengren
– This book delves into the developmental aspects of symbolic play, examining how it contributes to children’s understanding of social relationships and concepts. It offers insights into the progression of symbolic play from infancy through early childhood.
4. “Play and Imagination in Children with Autism, Second Edition” by Pamela J. Wolfberg
– Specifically addressing children with autism, this book explores the challenges they face in engaging in symbolic play and offers strategies and interventions to support their play and imagination development.
5. “The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally” by David Elkind
– While not solely focused on symbolic play, this book discusses the importance of play in general for children’s development. It touches on the role of imaginative and symbolic play in fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.
6. “The Importance of Play: A Report on the Value of Children’s Play with a Series of Policy Recommendations” by the American Academy of Pediatrics
– This report by the American Academy of Pediatrics discusses the significance of play, including symbolic play, in children’s overall well-being. It provides recommendations for parents, educators, and policymakers on promoting play.
These books offer valuable insights into the world of symbolic play, its benefits, and its role in child development. Depending on your specific interests and needs, you can choose the one that aligns best with your goals for understanding and promoting symbolic play in children.