ABSTRACT
Play and fantasy are the child's natural ways of dealing with emotional and interpersonal concerns. Children are not "taught" to play; fantasy and games are not dependent on reinforcement or parental approval. They are spontaneously interesting human activities. The separate evolution and development of the systems of play, fantasy, and language suits them to different purposes. Play and fantasy express emotion and are centered in the social-instinctual areas. Language is suited to the comprehension and communication of complex information that cannot be dealt with by the older emotional systems. Language, play, and dreams may be ordered on a continuum from public to private. A unique feature of speech is that the speaker hears his own words at the same time, and in much the same way, as the listener does. The private world of fantasy provides opportunities for the child to experiment with new roles and solutions to life conflicts.
