Editing Developmental psychology (section)

====Play (or preschool) ages 3–5====
In the earliest years, children are "completely dependent on the care of others". Therefore, they develop a "social relationship" with their care givers and, later, with family members. During their preschool years (3–5), they "enlarge their social horizons" to include people outside the family.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thornton |first1=Arland |title=The Well-being of Children and Families: Research and Data Needs |date=2001 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-09758-6 |pages=73–74 }}</ref>

[[Cognitive development#Preoperational stage|Preoperational]] and then [[Cognitive development#Concrete operational stage|operational]] thinking develops, which means actions are reversible, and egocentric thought diminishes.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Lightfoot C, Cole M, Cole SR | title = The Development of Children | publisher = Macmillan | date = 2008 | pages = 275–277 }}</ref>

The motor skills of preschoolers increase so they can do more things for themselves. They become more independent. No longer completely dependent on the care of others, the world of this age group expands. More people have a role in shaping their individual personalities. Preschoolers explore and question their world.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Centers for Disease Control | title = Child Development: Preschoolers (3-5 years of age) | date = 11 February 2021 | url = https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/preschoolers.html }}</ref> For [[Jean Piaget]], the child is "''a little scientist'' exploring and reflecting on these explorations to increase competence" and this is done in "a very independent way".{{sfn|Halpenny|Pettersen|2013|pp=7,9}}

Play is a major activity for ages 3–5. For Piaget, through play "a child reaches higher levels of cognitive development."{{sfn|Halpenny|Pettersen|2013|p=14}}

In their expanded world, children in the 3–5 age group attempt to find their own way. If this is done in a socially acceptable way, the child develops the initiative. If not, the child develops guilt.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = O'Connor B, Wells C, Applegate T | title = Health: You and Your World | volume =  1: Brief Edition | publisher = CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | date = 2015 | pages = 28 }}</ref> Children who develop "guilt" rather than "initiative" have failed Erikson's psychosocial crisis for the 3–5 age group.