The Power of Pretend Play: A Superhero's Guide to Building Resilience in Kids

For young children, pretend play extends beyond mere enjoyment – it serves as a transformative tool shaping their ability to persist at tasks and make informed choices, essentially changing their behavior. Pretend play is one of the many ways we embed fun into our DanPan and Executive Function Learning activities that parents will receive during the free month-long learning program. A recent study, led by Dr. Stephanie M. Carlson, a distinguished University of Minnesota Professor and former CEO of Reflection Sciences, sheds light on the profound impact of pretend play on a child's behavior.

The Superhero Experiment

In this fascinating experiment, 180 children aged 4 to 6 were given a seemingly tedious computer task. They were asked to "be a good helper" and perform the task for as long as they could. The catch? If it got too boring, they could take a break and play on a nearby tablet.

The children were divided into three groups:

• Exemplar Condition (Superhero Pretend Play): Children were given a prop, like a cape or crown, and asked to pretend to be a well-known cartoon superhero, such as Batman or Rapunzel. They were periodically asked, "Is Batman or Rapunzel working hard?"

• First Person or Self-Immersed Condition: Children were periodically asked, "Am I working hard?"

• Third Person Condition: Using their own name, children were periodically asked, "Is [child's name] working hard?"

The Results: Superpowers of Pretend Play

The findings were remarkable. Children engaged in superhero pretend play persevered on the task for an impressive 46% of the 10 minutes. In contrast, children in the third-person condition persisted for 36%, and those in the self-immersed condition only managed 29%.

Why Pretend Play Matters

Researchers suggest that pretending during a tedious task allows children to adopt a different perspective, a sort of "psychological distance." Viewing their situation from afar helps them keep their "big picture" goals in mind, avoiding distractions and staying focused on the task at hand.

Did You Know?

When children have opportunities to develop executive function and self-regulation skills, individuals and society experience lifelong benefits. These skills are crucial for learning and development. They also enable positive behavior and allow us to make healthy choices for ourselves and our families.