The Importance Of Imaginative Play
In doing so they learn to inhibit some behaviors and engage in others through self-monitoring, planning, and reflection (Bodrova et al, 2013). Research has shown that when children are playing a role they can attend to a task longer than when they are asked to do the task outside of the realm of play such as when asked to stand still and be a lookout versus just being asked to stand still (Bodrova et al, 2013). This supports the idea that children learn to inhibit some behaviors and engage in others through play, thereby learning to regulate …show more content…
Though Vygotsky believed that pretend play was confined to early childhood, he believed that it begins when children are toddlers, thrives during the pre-school years, and progresses into very complex roles and scenarios played out with peers (Berk & Meyers, 2013; Bodrova et al, 2013). However, despite his belief that pretend play ended around the age of 6, Vygotsky did believe that pretend play had a vital role in development and even creates the zone of proximal development (ZPD) (Bodrova et al, 2013). Studies since Vygotsky support the idea that the ZPD includes assistance in the form of pretend play (Bordova et al,