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Principles of emotional development and children’s pretend play

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Abstract

Children’s understanding of emotion and its constructivist links with pretend play is of increasing interest as an element of cognition. This article examines emotional development and pretend play using basic foundations of psychoanalytic and learning theories, and several understandings about emotional development. Also, this paper explains emotional development and pretend play through interactive levels of expression, control and modeling of emotion, and emotional intelligence. Through each of these levels, emotional development can be practiced and enhanced. To be a competent and positive person, children use pretend play as a learning opportunity to deal with their feelings, to have empathy for other’s feelings, and to develop emotional health.

Résumé

La compréhension enfantine de l’émotion et son lien constructiviste avec les jeux à faire semblant suscitent actuellement un intérêt croissant en tant qu’éléments interactifs cognitifs. Cet article se propose d’examiner le développement émotionnel et les jeux à faire semblant en utilisant les principles de base des théories psychanalytiques et cognitives, ainsi que certains éléments se rapportant au développement émotionnel. En outre, cette étude explique le développement émotionnel et les jeux à faire semblant à travers des niveaux interactifs d’expression, la ma"trise et le façonnage des émotions, ainsi que l’intelligence émotionnelle. A travers chacun de ces niveaux, le développement émotionnel peut être réalisé et accru. Pour se sentir compétent et se présenter une image positive de lui-même, l’enfant utilise les jeux à faire semblant afin d’apprendre à maîtriser ses émotions, d’avoir de l’empathie envers les autres, et de développer son bien-être émotionnel.

Resumen

El entendimiento por parte de los niños de las emociones y su nexo constructivista con los juegos de roles hace crecer el interés en los elementos cognitivos interactivos. El presente art’culo examina el desarrollo emocional y los juegos de roles por medio del uso de teor’as psicoanal’ticas y pedagógicas de demostrada estabilidad. Además, explica el desarrollo emocional y el “juego de roles” tanto en los distintos niveles de expresión, control y modelación de las emociones como en la inteligencia emocional. Desde cada uno de estos niveles se puede practicar y favorecer el desarrollo emocional. Aparte de ser una oportunidad de aprender a tratar con sus sentimientos, entender los de los demás y desarrollar una salud emocional, los niños utilizan el juego de roles con el fin de aprender a ser una persona independiente y positiva.

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Kwon, J.Y., Yawkey, T.D. Principles of emotional development and children’s pretend play. IJEC 32, 9–13 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03169017

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