Mothers' and fathers' attitudes regarding pretend play in the context of imaginary companions and of child gender

Mothers' and fathers' beliefs and attitudes regarding pretend play were examined as a function of whether their children had imaginary companions and their children's gender. Parents (73 mothers, 40 fathers) were surveyed about their children's pretend play, their attitudes toward pretense, and the environments they provided for their children's pretense. Results revealed that parents of children with and without imaginary companions saw their children's play similarly. Girls were rated as engaging in more pretend play than boys, and mothers perceived pretend play more positively than fathers did. Results are discussed in terms of the relation between individual differences in children and parents' attitudes and in terms of the relation between parents' beliefs about pretend play and their gender roles.