Playful Aggression in Early Childhood Settings

Aggressive behaviour, more often observed in young boys, is a relatively common factor of sociodramatic play recognised in literature to be beneficial for child development. While educators are often uncomfortable with this form of play, it may be argued that the omission of aggressive play in early childhood programmes fosters the underdevelopment of social, emotional, physical, cognitive and communicative abilities in young children. This is particularly relevant for preschool-aged boys because they engage in aggressive sociodramatic play more often than girls. This article serves to clarify definitions of serious aggression and playful aggression, conceptualise the importance of various forms of sociodramatic play in child development, and provide strategies for educators when confronted with aggressive sociodramatic play in their classrooms.