[Xmca-l] Re: Play and symbolic thought --

[larry smolucha]

Message from Francine Smolucha:
Beth,
According to Vygotsky, object substitutions in pretend play (such as riding on a stick as if it were a  horse) are the pivot for separating meaning from object. The ability to make the gesture with a non-replica object leads to more abstract symbols such as using pictorial representation (such as stick people and stick animals in drawings, i. e., line drawings) to words made out of alphabet letters and numerical notations. I do not know of any one longitudinal study that documented this progression, but there are certainly studies thatfocused on specific components. My doctoral dissertation University of Chicago 1991documented how objects changed their names and functions in pretend play (a longitudinal study of toddlers aged 14- to 28- months.) Isn't that the basic definition of a symbol - that one object can stand for another (re-present another)???
Are you thinking of something along these lines?
> Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:31:41 +0200
> From: bferholt@gmail.com
> To: xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Play and symbolic thought --
> 
> We are wondering if there is anything actually showing that play allows for
> the development of symbolic thought ... we do not have an idea what this
> experiment could look like : ) ... anytime it was done is fine! Beth
> 
> 
> On Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 7:18 PM, Hansen, Monica <
> monica.hansen@vandals.uidaho.edu> wrote:
> 
> > Beth,
> > What specifically about Vygotsky's claims and the relationship between
> > play and symbolic thought are you looking for research to substantiate? Are
> > you looking for contemporary research? What kind of research? The path is
> > not always easy or direct because Vygotsky's thoughts encompassed larger
> > ideas within which a myriad of approaches to research on this topic can be
> > framed and approached. At least this has been my experience in hunting it
> > down :)
> > --The other Monica
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu [mailto:
> > xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of Beth Ferholt
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 10:06 AM
> > To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> > Cc: xmca-l@ucsd.edu
> > Subject: [Xmca-l] Play and symbolic thought --
> >
> > Monica and I have been talking about Vygotsky's work on the relationship
> > between play and symbolic thought and been being challenged by Swedish
> > preschool teachers.  Is there an experiment that shows Vygotsky was correct
> > in his claims about this relationship?  We can't find any!
> > Tanks,
> > Beth
> > --
> > Beth Ferholt
> > Assistant Professor
> > School of Education
> > Brooklyn College, City University of New York
> > 2900 Bedford Avenue
> > Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889
> >
> > Email: bferholt@brooklyn.cuny.edu
> > Phone: (718) 951-5205
> > Fax: (718) 951-4816
> >
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Beth Ferholt
> Assistant Professor
> School of Education
> Brooklyn College, City University of New York
> 2900 Bedford Avenue
> Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889
> 
> Email: bferholt@brooklyn.cuny.edu
> Phone: (718) 951-5205
> Fax: (718) 951-4816