We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be. – Kurt Vonnegut
Why Do We Pretend?
Pretending is a significant aspect of human nature. If anyone has spent even a bit of time with a toddler, they know how pervasive pretending is during that time in life. Adults pretend along with children to foster that kind of imaginative learning and growth, which is bi-directional. When young children pretend, parents often naturally indulge them. And for good reason. There is evidence that pretend-type play helps children develop counterfactual reasoning. This skill is a crucial part of our development and how we imagine alternative possibilities, whether in the past or the future.