Once I observed a group of children engaged in superhero play. 'Superman' was encouraging the 'baddies' to attack him, but the sight of his playmates charging across the grass prompted a change of heart and he suddenly called out, 'Hold on. One at a time!'
The incident raises important questions about aggression in children's play. Were the 'baddies' being aggressive? Was 'Superman' afraid? Or was the incident part of a well-ordered game, in which a speedy rule change left no one feeling threatened? More broadly, when and why are children aggressive in their play, and how should adults respond?
Jennie Lindon (2001) identifies two areas of aggressive play:
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