Citation

Göncü A. Early Child Res. Q. 1993; 8(1): 99-116.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0885-2006(05)80100-0

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study was designed to examine a hypothesis built on the theories of Piaget (1945, 1965), Vygotsky (1978), and Parten (1932) that children's play becomes increasingly intersubjective during preschool years. The notion of intersubjectivity is defined as joint understanding established between players. The structural features and negotiations of social play are used as indicies of intersubjectivity. The data for the analyses derived from the play sessions of twelve 3-year-olds and twelve 4 1/2-year-olds who engaged in videotaped 20 min play in same-age and same-sex dyads. The results provide support for the hypothesis that social play of preschoolers becomes increasingly shared from 3 to 4 1/2 years of age.