Nonsocial Play in Preschoolers: Necessarily Evil?

RUBIN, KENNETH H. Nonsocial Play in Preschoolers: Necessarily Evil? CHLD DEVELOPMENT, 1982, 53, 651-657. It has been suggested that children who play on their own, without interacting with peers, may be at risk for social, cognitive, and social-cognitive problems. Recently, however, the children's play literature has revealed that some forms of nonsocial activity are constructive and adaptive. In this study the social, cognitive, and social-cognitive correlates of nonsocial play were examined. 122 4-year-olds were observed for 20 min during free play. They were also administered a role-taking test and tests of social and impersonal problemsolving skills. Sociometric popularity and social competence (as rated by teachers) were also assessed. Analyses indicated that nonsocial-functional (sensorimotor) and dramatic activities generally correlated negatively with the measures of competence. Parallel-constructive activities generally correlated positively with the various measures of competence.