There is evidence that by age three children can identify their own gender, and studies
of this age show that boys and girls already play differently. Male play is more aggressive;
female play is centered more on relationships, and it’s more nurturing. Male play tends to
involve the larger muscles; female play tends to use more of the fine motor skills.
Play is imaginative. Preschoolers may tell stories that aren’t true. There is interest in
books and learning. Some may learn their ABCs. From age three to seven fantasy and
pretend are at their peek. Children build playhouses out of blankets and cushions or forts
out of tree branches and cardboard boxes. Toys and media can have nurturing effects (like
Barney and Dora the Explorer). Children identify with characters and see them as being
like them (the Little Mermaid), or they might want to grow up to belike characters (Barbie,
Superman), or they could be attracted to the dark side of characters (Darth Vader). Some-
times children like toys or characters that they in turn can nurture (baby dolls) or control
(action figures). Transformation is appealing to children because of the fantasy involved and
because kids want to believe that they can become anything they choose. Of course even at
three children don’t really believe that they can literally transform like toys. Physical power
for those three to seven has a large appeal because they don’t have much power of any kind
themselves. This age group needs entertainment and stimulation.
The senses are still important. A strange sound can be frightening, but bells and whis-
tles are great! Preschoolers like primary colors, and they love flash (high-tech and special
effects, sparkling makeup and glittering jewelry).
From three through seven most children like slapstick and physical humor, sudden sur-
prise, and action. This age also enjoys putdowns and name calling. Interest is still in the imme-
diate neighborhood and familiar everyday things. Children might be afraid of animals,
imagined monsters, or other children who seem different from what they know, such as kids
with disabilities. New places and distant time periods are usually of little interest. Preschool-
ers probably have their own friends. Many go to school, organized sports, or music or dance
lessons. They like humor and “pooh-pooh” jokes. Around age four or five children may be
so confident in their own opinions that they either love or hate everything. Five-year-olds
might have already outgrown the Sesame Street gang.
There’s a focus on the development of the right brain from ages three or four through
six. This is the area of emotional development, of imagination, of artistic and musical devel-
opment. The first five or six years the brain establishes a structure to know oneself, and lan-
guage skills are developed enough to communicate and learn about the world.
A key issue for this age group is initiative, a balance of freedom and responsibility with
spontaneity. All children from three to seven need lots of love. They’re still bonding with
their parents and establishing a foundation of trust. And they need to feel safe; for a few
children scary movies can still seem very real. Often between the ages of three and ten, imag-
inary friends appear to even the most social children. They will disappear again for good at
some point.
Age Five
Most five-year-olds are eager to start kindergarten, but some may still be anxious about
leaving their parents. Some might still be unable to sit still for long and have trouble fol-
lowing instructions. Some may still have trouble with up and down, right and left, or mirror
48 Animation Writing and Development