THE INHIBITION OF PRETEND PLAY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Four kinds of pretend-play inhibition, noted in children from 3-9 year s of age, are described. These include: (a) nonresolution of negative affective experience through pretend activity, but maintenance of symb olic representation; (b) noncoordination and disorganization of play o bjects and activities; (c) perseveration of activity and repetition of single schemes, and (d) global inhibition of pretend play. Based on a vailable literature, hypotheses are proposed regarding potential cause s and developmental sequelae of pretend-play difficulties, in both cog nitive and socioaffective realms. Implications of these observations f or examining the relation between affectivity and the development of s ymbolic cognitive structures are discussed.