The phenomenon of imaginary companions (ICs) has received little attention in developmental psychology, even though it can be observed in approximately 25% of preschool-aged children. Only a few studies have investigated the effect of ICs on children's theory of mind and emotion understanding, and the results are partial or inconsistent. This…

Questionnaires were completed by 5th-, 8th-, and 11th-grade public schools students in rural and suburban school districts and by undergraduates at two universities in the United States (n = 1,242). They were asked about their orientation to video games--the amount of time they played, their motives for doing so, and the game types they…

Mothers' and fathers' beliefs and attitudes regarding pretend play were examined as a function of whether their children had imaginary companions and their children's gender. Parents (73 mothers, 40 fathers) were surveyed about their children's pretend play, their attitudes toward pretense, and the environments they provided for their children's…

Research Findings: This study content analyzed 29 frequently used children's books in pre-kindergarten through 3rd-grade classrooms. Although the books included European and African American literature, none of the 29 books addressed other ethnic groups in the United States, and only two included international perspectives. Male and middle…