Role of Peers and Play

Question 1

Why do psychologists believe peer play is important

Answer 1

helps young children develop their motor skills and even develops theory of mind (understanding that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions different to their own)

Question 2

Why did P + V study play

Answer 2

they studied it as a means of understanding a child cognitive development

Question 3

What is practice play

Answer 3

• practice of useful behaviour out of its context
• involves repetition of skills that have been mastered (asking why over and over)
• based on imitation (incorrect knock knock joke format)
• child learns but does not always understand^
• sensorimotor stage (0-2y)

Question 4

What is symbolic play

Answer 4

• beginning of representational though through use of substitute actions/means
• symbolic play emerges with the development of language
  1. (2-4) imitate actions of others (using fake phone)
  2. (4-7) dramatic play becomes realistic/complex and is characterized by orderliness, and adoption of roles (must pay to use bus)
  3. (7-12) story lines become prominent during play and can be paused and picked back up later, roles are more reality based
• kids engage in more than one type of play during a session

Question 5

At what age do kids become interested in games with rules and why

Answer 5

• 7
• last stage of sumbolic play
• competition regulated by cultural/temporarily-agreed-upon rules

Question 6

What is the limitation of saying play causes development

Answer 6

-correlation not causation? cannot tell if one causes the other
- believed is bidirectional: learning results in playing and playing results in learning

Question 7

What is the role of culture in play

Answer 7

• often in more traditional/rural societies the play that they are involved in is related to their roles (fake fighting or hunting)
• these games are not contests (no score or winner) and creates collectivistic approaches to life

Question 8

What is the counterargument

Answer 8

Lillard et al (2013) found no real evidence that play leads to creativity, problem-solving, or intelligence/emotional regulation
- researchers may be seeing a link that isn’t there
- the studies were highly directive-real pretend play is spontaneous

Question 9

Now what is the role of peers?

Answer 9

play has positive/negative effects on children as their sociometric status can effect the child academic performance as well

Question 10

Sociometric Status Chart

Answer 10

Coie & Dodge (1988)

Accepted
+ attractive
+ interacts positively
+ negotiates/compromises well
+ adjusts behaviour to join in on play
- highly social
- good cognitive skills
- better adjusted as adults

Rejected Agressive:
+ aggressive, disruptive, uncooperative
+ poor emotional control
+ poor etiquette/perspective taking skills
+ unaware that they are disliked
- poor academic performance
- long term behavioural/emotional maladjustment
- relationship problems

Rejected Withdrawn
+ passive, timid, awkward
+ negative expectations of others
+ doesn’t approach peers for play
+ aware they are disliked
- low self-esteem
- poor academic achievement
- social anxiety/depression

Neglected
+ socially inept
+ plays alone
+ prefers to be alone
- not always disadvantaged
- can make friends
- more prone to loneliness/depression