Pretend play of children with acquired brain injury: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
This exploratory study aimed to describe the self-initiated pretend play of three children who had sustained an acquired brain injury (ABI). No previous research was found.


METHODS
Three children aged 3.0-6.0 years were recruited through purposive sampling. Pretend play ability was assessed using the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment.


RESULTS
Two of the three children scored below the range expected for children their age and one child scored above the range, indicating a wide range of pretend play ability for the children. None of the children could sustain their engagement in pretend play to complete the time of the assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Complex pretend play ability is a functional assessment of cognitive ability involving sequential planning, problem-solving, language and social understanding. Cognitive fatigue is argued to explain the children's limited ability to engage in play for the time expected for their ages. More research is required.
School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Naomi
N
Fink
Karen
K
Stagnitti
Jane
J
Galvin
D001076:Aptitude; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012919:Social Behavior