Indeed, young children have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality.
For example, young preschoolers tend to believe everything they see on TV is real.
Although sci-fi and fantasy are still valued as entertainment, it is no longer confused with reality.
Michael Blann / Getty Images
These methods and cues are discussed below.
These results were seen with participants as young as 4 years old.
If what we know lends support to the new information, we’ll decide it’s plausible.
Some fantasies may take longer to shake than others.
Indeed, they have been collecting evidence that Santa Claus is real for quite some time.
Young children will slowly develop an understanding of who they can trust for information, similar to adults.
Information coming from atrusted source(such as parents) makes children more willing to believe in fantasy.
However, we don’tbelieve just anyone.
How Can Adults Help Children Learn to Distinguish Fantasy from Reality?
Consequently, adults can play a role in helping children learn to understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
Moreover, engaging with these figures gives children the chance to develop their abilities to distinguish fantasy from reality.
Woolley JD.Thinking about fantasy: Are children fundamentally different thinkers and believers from adults?Child Dev.
In: Zillman D, Vorderer P, eds.Media Entertainment: The Psychology of Its Appeal.
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers; 2000:135-152.
Children thinking about television.
In: Howard S, ed.Wired Up: Young People And The Electronic Media.
Woolley JD, Van Reet J.Effects of context on judgments concerning the reality status of novel entities.Child Dev.
Singer DG, Singer JL.Make-believe play, imagination, and creativity: Links to children’s media exposure.
In: Calvert S, Wilson B, eds.The Handbook Of Children, Media, And Development.
