Young children's behavior modifications during pretend play with their younger siblings.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24730548
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Educational psychology
• Research Institution: Japan Women's College of Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Nakamichi Naoko 日本女子体育大学, 体育学部, 准教授 (10389926)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 幼児 / きょうだい / ふり遊び / ふりシグナル / 系列分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study investigated whether older siblings changed their behaviors during pretense play and consequently encouraged toddlers to engage in collaborative pretend play, with a sample of 26 pairs of older siblings (M = 5;5) and toddlers (M = 1;11). Older siblings smiled longer, gazed at the toddlers longer, used sound effects more frequently, and engaged in more frequent snack-related actions in a “pretense condition” than in a “real condition.” In addition, sequential analysis revealed that toddlers were significantly more likely to engage in pretense following the specific pattern of older siblings’ pretense signals, as a form of social referencing.

Free Research Field

発達心理学