Pretend play and child development

Vygotsky (1977) argued in his lecture on play: “Action in the imaginary field, in the imagined situation, building of voluntary intention, the construction of life plan, motives of willing — all this emerges in play” (Vygotsky 1977: 96). Vygotsky’s description has been interpreted as a promise that all child’s play promotes development. But Vygotsky was writing about social pretend role play.