Discussion: The Connection Between Intersubjectivity and Play

Have you ever thought about how you learned to make sense of other people’s thoughts and emotions? How you learned to share your thoughts and emotions with others? Can you remember a time when, as a child, you wanted to play with someone and first had to come to an agreement about rules and roles.
In your first assigned reading for this week, Chapter 3 of the Smidt text, you learned about the principle of intersubjectivity, and how the capacity for intersubjectivity facilitates children’s inherent desire to make sense of the intentions and emotions of others. In Chapter 4, you studied the significant role of play in children’s growth, development, and learning. Through this Discussion, you will have an opportunity to explore the link between intersubjectivity and play.
In preparation for this Discussion:

Review the assigned readings for this week.
Focus on the meaning of “primary intersubjectivity” and “secondary intersubjectivity.”
Review the various types of play behavior and look for examples of intersubjectivity.

By Day 3
Post your response to the following:

Describe three examples of play behavior that illustrate the presence of intersubjectivity in children’s play.
Summarize the ways intersubjectivity manifests itself in each of the three examples.
Briefly state any new insights you gained, or ideas you developed, as a result of your readings about children’s construction of meaning and about intersubjectivity.