The study, led by the University of Bristol, shows for the first time how children’s awareness and grasp of pretence in its various forms develops from birth to three years.

Lead author Prof Elena Hoicka, Professor of Psychology in Education at the University’s School of Education, said: “Our findings highlight how pretending is a complex, evolving process which begins very early on in life, helping their cognitive and social skills to advance. Pretence is a key part of children’s learning, creativity, making friends, and understanding of other people. This study maps its many different stages and types.”

The findings are based on results from a survey of 900 parents of children aged from birth up to three-years-old (47 months) from the UK, US, Australia, and Canada. The earliest reported age when children understand pretending was four months and by the age of 13 months around half were reported to recognise pretence by others. Around half of 12-month-olds were reported to be pretending regularly themselves.

Researchers identified 18 different types of pretending which emerge and progress in the early years. One-year-olds’ pretence was shown to initially involve their bodies, for example pretending to sleep. They may also gesture objects and actions, such as brushing their teeth with a finger or pretending with objects for their intended purpose like drinking out of an empty cup.

Read the full University of Bristol news item

Paper: ‘The Early Pretending Survey (EPS): A Reliable Parent-Report Measure of Pretence Type Development for 4- to 47-month-olds’ by E Hoicka & E Prouten in Cognitive Development