Role Play as a Factor of Interpersonal Relationships Development

The article presents a research on the correlation between role playing and interpersonal relationships in preschool children. The research was aimed at conducting a comparative analysis of interpersonal relationships in preschoolers with and without developed role playing (that is, in children who play and those who don't). The character of communication and interpersonal relationships was studied through observation and three projective techniques revealing children's perception of peers, their ways of handling conflict situations, and prosocial behaviour. The research involved children aged 5—6 years from «playing» and «non-playing» groups of different kindergartens. The comparative analysis showed that children with developed role play had better outcomes in the attitudes towards peers. In the final part of the article the impact of play on communication development and relationships in preschool children is discussed. Basing up on the research results the author concludes that the most apparent and natural method of developing communicative skills and emotional sensitivity in preschool children is to create a suitable environment for their free joint role playing.

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