New research reveals that babies can recognize pretending, and about 50% of children are capable of pretending themselves by the age of 12 months.
This study, conducted by the University of Bristol, is the first to illustrate how children’s comprehension and abilities related to pretending develop from birth to three years old.
According to Prof Elena Hoicka, a Professor of Psychology in Education at the University’s School of Education and the study’s lead author, “Our research reveals that pretending is a complex and evolving process that starts early in life, boosting cognitive and social development. Pretending plays a vital role in children’s learning, creativity, making friends, and understanding others. This study outlines the numerous stages and forms of pretence.”
The results are based on a survey involving 900 parents of children from birth to three years old (47 months) in the UK, US, Australia, and Canada. The earliest age at which parents noted children’s understanding of pretence was four months, and by 13 months, about half of the children were said to recognize others’ pretence. Additionally, around half of the 12-month-olds were reported to regularly engage in pretence themselves.
Researchers identified 18 distinct types of pretending that develop during early childhood. Initially, one-year-olds were seen to incorporate their bodies into play, such as pretending to sleep. They may also use gestures to imitate objects and actions, like brushing their teeth with a finger or using an empty cup as if drinking.
Prof Hoicka further explained, “This evolves into pretending that one object is another, such as using a banana as a phone. This form of pretending significantly enhances their creative play, as it allows children to imagine any object they wish to use in their activities.”
By the age of two, children’s pretence reflects more abstract thinking, as they might pretend to do things outside their typical daily experiences, like flying a rocket ship. At this stage, they often use their entire bodies to mimic others or become things like trees, animals, or characters.
“This includes known individuals and fantasy characters, such as Spider-Man or Peppa Pig. Their developing language skills also contribute to this, enabling them to engage in more complex pretend play, including creating intricate narratives,” Prof Hoicka added.
By age three, children show a high level of creativity, often dreaming up fantastical scenarios, like acting as cartoon characters soaring through space. Some even start creating and interacting with imaginary friends.
Prof Hoicka noted, “While some parents might be overestimating the understanding of pretend play among the youngest kids—at four months—in our study, the ages at which parents report these 18 types of pretence are mostly aligned with earlier research.”
This research is the first of its kind to map out how and when the concept of pretence develops within the first three years of life.
“Previous studies on early pretence have predominantly been observational or experimental, which limited the number of children involved,” Prof Hoicka explained. “Our new survey based on parental reports allows researchers to include a larger number of children, which is unprecedented in observational or experimental research.”
The research team hopes these findings will assist parents and early childhood educators in recognizing which kinds of pretence are suitable to introduce to children at various ages, thus enhancing their learning, creativity, and social connections.
Prof Hoicka concluded, “With further studies, these findings could serve as a diagnostic tool for identifying developmental differences in young children. This could ultimately benefit parents, early educators, and healthcare practitioners in understanding how to engage with children at different developmental stages.”
