Delay of Gratification and Make-Believe Play of Preschoolers

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between children's ability to delay gratification and time spent in make-believe play in a sample of 39 three-to five-year-old children. Delay of gratification was determined in an experimental situation (Mischel, 1974). Children's play was assessed using a teacher questionnaire, a mother interview, a child interview, and videotaped naturalistic preschool classroom observations. Children who spent more time in make-believe play were able to delay gratification longer than children who spent less time in make-believe play (p = .025). There was a significant correlation between make-believe play at home and delay of gratification (p = .047), but no significant relationship between make-believe play at preschool and delay of gratification. Separate one-way analyses of variance found make-believe play (p = .042) was the only significant variable related to delay of gratification when age, sex, family structure, ethnicity, child care center, mother education, and make-believe play were examined. Solitary play versus social play and delay of gratification were not significantly related (p = .512) when examined by one-way analyses of variance.