An examination of the imagination styles of preschool children

Preschool children demonstrate distinct imagination styles when playing. The researcher of this study examines imagination styles by observing the physical behaviors and verbal expressions of nine preschool children during play. The purpose of this study is to supplement the current theories of imagination styles. This was accomplished by comparing existing data with data collected from both the interviews and the observed characteristics preschool children exhibit during play.;This study follows a line of inquiry regarding the play of preschool children. Previous research identifies two distinct patterns of play and imagination.;A qualitative case study approach was employed in this study. Participant-observation and interviews were chosen as the methods for data collection. Nine preschool children participated in interviews and four different play activities designed to promote imagery. The activities depended upon various sensory modalities. To augment the data collected from the children, the researcher interviewed one parent and teacher of each of the children.;Individual and cross case analyses reveal that each child demonstrated unique characteristics in his or her play. These specific individual characteristics remained consistent even as the play activities varied. The findings in this study are comparable with previous research that supports two distinct imagination styles.;Additionally, the researcher elaborates on prior findings by contending that the characteristics of each style are demonstrated to varying degree; therefore, each characteristic can be represented by a continuum. Children's play behaviors tend to fall somewhere on the individual continuums. This conclusion provides an additional dimension to understanding the imagination styles of the preschool child.