In a series of tea party-like experiments, Johns Hopkins University researchers demonstrated for the first time that apes can use their imagination and play pretend, an ability thought to be uniquely ...

For children, rocks can be spaceships. Pens can be fairies. And this kind of play can help protect mental health in childhood ...

Little kids hosting make-believe tea parties is a fixture of childhood playtime and long presumed to be exclusively a human ability. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University presented evidence in a new ...

Amalia Bastos first met Kanzi the bonobo in 2023. Bastos was “starstruck,” she recalls: Kanzi was famous for learning how to communicate with humans using a keyboard of symbols. Upon first seeing ...

When a person seems fake, the signs are often nuanced, but according to a study from the Personality and Individual Differences journal, fakeness revolves around insecurity, narcissism, and a ...

Pretend play isn’t just fun—it’s a powerful tool for your child’s growth. Studies show it can boost language, social skills, and even long-term mental health. The best part? You don’t need fancy ...

Children who demonstrate pretend play ability as toddlers have significantly fewer emotional and behavioral difficulties at ...