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Dramatic Play

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Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

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Synonyms

Creative dramatics; Fantasy play; Pretend play; Pretension play; Socio-dramatic play; Symbolic play

Definition

Dramatic play permits children to fit the reality of the world into their own interests and knowledge. Dramatic play gives the child the opportunity to release his/her emotions while feeling less threatened and exposed owing to the distance that dramatic play creates from his/her problems [1, 3].

Description

Dramatic play includes role-playing, puppetry, and fantasy play. It does not require interaction with another. By acting out experience, he/she comes into contact with reality. It is constructive for the child to remember situations through play and to have the opportunity to repeat them and work through them. Socio-dramatic play is dramatic play with the additional component of social interaction with either a peer or teacher [1]. Creative dramatics involves spontaneous, creative play. Children frequently reenact a scene or a story.

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References

  1. Center for best practices, University of Western Illinois. (2002). Dramatic play. Retrieved December 18, 2008, from http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/art/artexpress/draplay.html.

  2. Dramatic Play. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2008, from http://www.playtherapyonline.net/Books/Entering-the-world-of-a-child/Chapter-9-Dramatic-play.html.

  3. Ghaci, G., & Richardson, J. T. E. (1980). The effects of dramatic play upon cognitive structure and development. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 136(1), 77–84.

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  4. Van der Merwe, M. (2005). Dramatic play. Retrieved December 18, 2008, from http://www.playtherapyonline.net/Books/Entering-the-world-of-a-child/Chapter-9-Dramatic-play.html.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 11300 Expo Blvd #2218, San Antonio, TX, 78230, USA

    Rebekah R. Pender

Authors
  1. Rebekah R. Pender
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebekah R. Pender .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Pender, R.R. (2011). Dramatic Play. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_893

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_893

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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