Patterns of fantasy play engagement across the transition to becoming a sibling.
Patterns of spontaneous dyadic fantasy play among 30 3- to 5-year-old first-born children who were becoming siblings were evaluated at two pre- and three post-birth intervals for its length, thematic content and social quality. Children who interacted more positively with their sibling played longer, engaged in fantasy play that was thematically relevant to becoming a sibling and had more positive interactions with best friends than low-sibling acceptance children. High-sibling acceptance children also experienced a suppression in fantasy immediately following their sibling's birth; thus, a temporary disruption in fantasy play may indicate adaptive coping.
Kramer
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Schaefer-Hernan
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P
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001721:Birth Intervals; D001722:Birth Order; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012919:Social Behavior