Describe rough-and-tumble play and sociodramatic play and explain what their functional roles in development are thought to be. Provide an example to support each.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should include:
1. Rough-and-tumble play involves playful fighting accompanied by positive emotions. It is thought to provide a context in which children can learn to regulate aggression. An example is two boys who are play wrestling with one another.
2. Sociodramatic play is pretend play of a more elaborate nature in which children assign roles and act in and direct their own little scenes. It is correlated with higher levels of executive functioning, including attentional and behavioral control, and also may help children understand other people's viewpoints and emotions due to the give and take interactions that occur. An example is several children who play "school" and assign each other roles (teacher, student, teacher's aide, etc.).