ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is make some assessment of the degree to which children of four have autonomy in their play, in the two senses of being allowed to make use of the free-play materials most commonly available and having direction and control over their own possessions. The basic principle is one of equal rights, even though this so often breaks down in practice. The logical assumption of the throw-away philosophy is that when broken goods are replaced by new, the broken ones are put in the dustbin; but where four-year-olds and their toys are concerned one is relieved to observe that sentimental attachment confounds logic. It was found possible to analyse parent-child behaviour in terms of the outcome of the conflict, in three broad categories: the child wins (45%); a compromise is reached (25%); or the mother wins (30%).
