Developmental Articles: PreK-Kindergarten

"The Power of Magical Thinking." Wang, Shirley (December 22, 2009). The Wall Street Journal Retrieved January 21, 2012 from http://www.online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703344704574610002061841322.html

This article discusses why imagination is important to a child's cognitive development. "Is the Tooth Fairy real? How about the garbage man? Those questions may seem trivial, but how young children answer them in an important indicator of cognitive development." (Wang) The research compiled in this study looked at 91 children who were asked if certain people or characters are real. The responses and thoughts behind why children believe certain people or characters really exist were quite humorous, but the research gives insight into why children believe what they believe. Parents can influence what children believe is real or fairy tale. "The researchers found that while children as young as 3 understand the concept of what is real and what isn't, until they are about 7 kids can be easily misled by adults' persuasive words or by "evidence." (Wang) Imagination plays an important part in cognitive development for many reasons."The hope is that understanding how children's cognition typically develops will also help scientists better understand developmental delays and conditions such as autism." (Wang) This article also looks at how children understand what is impossible or improbable. "Early results suggest that 5-year olds don't yet have the ability to distinguish what is impossible from what is unlikely to happen but could technically happen." (Wang)

This article would be helpful to parents because it helps them understand the benefits of children experiencing fantasy play without requiring parents to encourage fantasy play. It helps parents deal with when to tell a child the truth about fairy tales or things that really don't exist. Introducing or engaging imaginative play to children can have many rewarding benefits. "Fantasy play is correlated with other positive attributes. In preschool children, for example, those who have imaginary friends are more creative, have greater social understanding and are better at taking the perspective of others." (Taylor)