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What about make believe for children, good or bad? Is there really a Tooth Fairy? Really?? If you're a four-year old, the answer is probably "yes." If you're a 24-year old hopefully the answer is "no."

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explored the subject of how kids learn to distinguish between what is real and what is not real. The following paragraphs from this article provide you an insight to some fascinating research.

"For years, imagination was thought of as a way for children to escape from reality, and once they reached a certain age, it was believed they would push fantasy aside and deal with the real world. But, increasingly, child-development experts are recognizing the importance of imagination and the role it plays in understanding reality. "
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"The hope is that understanding how children's cognition typically develops will also help scientists better understand developmental delays and conditions such as autism. For instance, there is evidence that imagination and role play appears to have a key role in helping children take someone else's perspective, says Dr. Harris. Kids with autism, on the other hand, don't engage in much pretend play, leading some to suggest that the lack of such activity contributes to their social deficits, according to Dr. Harris."

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