Letting children play can support development

Preschool-age children are most engaged in pretend play 10–15 minutes after playing begins. In addition, girls exhibit higher organizational skills, according to a study conducted by researchers from SWPS University and Istanbul University. The paper "The Dynamics of Pretend Play: Exploring Organization, Elaboration, and Imagination in Early Childhood" was published in the journal Early Education and Development by psychologists Natalia Józefacka, Ph.D., from the Institute of Psychology at SWPS University and Beyza Hamamcı, Ph.D., from Istanbul University. The publication is part of a larger study on how self-regulation develops in children and how young children, depending on their age and gender, are able to adapt to the demands of their environment.