Preschoolers' Imaginative Play as Precursor of Narrative Consciousness

Can the early childhood play of preschoolers foreshadow the form and complexity of adult ongoing consciousness? The beginnings of make-believe play in children from about two years of age are reviewed starting with transitional objects, play with soft toys, or imaginary playmates. The roles of pretending and story-telling play are next examined and their contribution not only to sheer enjoyment but to an array of cognitive, social, and emotional skills are considered. We discuss the contribution of adults as nurturers and enhancers of such play. We turn finally to the aspects of adult consciousness: wakeful perception; identification, labeling, and encoding; guided imagery, mental trial actions, and playfulness. The features of childhood play may be seen to foreshadow an array of functions of ongoing conscious thought, especially its narrative components and, following Baars' theory, its role as a “theater” for prioritizing, decision-making, contextualizing, and creativity.