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DEVELOPMENTAL SCALE FOR SYMBOLIC FUNCTION IN MANIPULATIVE PLAY

1988; Japanese Association of Educational Psychology; Volume: 36; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5926/jjep1953.36.4_345

2186-3075

Miwako Hoshi, Yoko Kuriyama, Motoko Hasumi, Mako Hikasa,

Values and Moral Education

A developmental scale for symbolic functions in early childhood is proposed. Based on the constituents of manipulative plays, developmental levels are hypothesized as follows: Level 0-no symbolization, where children use a thing according to its physica l property; Level 1-symbolization of action, where children use things in the conve ntional manner even in the play setting; Level 2-symbolization of object and action, where children use a thing or doll to stand for another thing or person which is the object or recipient of action; Level 3-symbolization of action, object, and agent, where the agent of action is represented by a doll or the child himself. Five children ranging in age from 9 to 28 months old were observed once a month for 17 months in the play setting with toys and everyday objects provided. The above hypothetical stages were verified except in level 3 since the behaviors expected from the scale did not occur in this age range. Clear distinctions emerged in the age bracket at levels 0, 1, 2.