Pretend Play and Fantasy: What if Montessori Was Right?

Pretend play and fantasy are staples of childhood, supported by adults’ provision of encouraging tools (like dress‐up clothing and play kitchens) and by media. Decades ago, Maria Montessori developed a system of education based on close observation of children, and she concluded that pretend play an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child development perspectives 2019-06, Vol.13 (2), p.85-90
Main Authors: Lillard, Angeline S., Taggart, Jessica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child development
Childhood
Fantasy
Montessori
Pretend play
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Summary:Pretend play and fantasy are staples of childhood, supported by adults’ provision of encouraging tools (like dress‐up clothing and play kitchens) and by media. Decades ago, Maria Montessori developed a system of education based on close observation of children, and she concluded that pretend play and fantasy were not as helpful for children's development as the zeitgeist suggested (and still suggests). In this article, we present her views and relevant evidence, and ask: What if she was right? What if, as a culture, we are putting great effort and faith into activities and contexts for children that we believe help development but that might actually be less helpful than engaging in the real world?
ISSN:1750-8592
1750-8606
DOI:10.1111/cdep.12314