ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the developmental role of rough and tumble (R&T) play, with particular attention paid to the narratives that children use to underpin such activities. In human beings, R&T appears to be a cross-generational and cross-cultural phenomenon, particularly prevalent among young males. However, the term ‘rough and tumble’ can be an unsatisfactorily vague description of a diverse set of play behaviours. One immediate question with respect to developing a taxonomy of R&T is whether to include the non-contact aspects of the behaviour, or to narrow down the behaviour to actual play-fighting. Monkey play involves much R&T, with some play actions that are very similar to those used by human beings. The animals frequently play-fight, which involves play-biting, role reversal and pretending to be injured; they also play ‘tag’, where one monkey approaches another with a play face, hits it and runs away, inviting the other animal to chase.
