In the present study, the pivots used for symbolic transformations in imaginative play by children from 5 cultural groups were compared. The participants were 76 children (41 girls and 35 boys, four to six years old) from five Brazilian cultural groups: a small seashore community, a village of Brazilian Indians, and three urban groups of different socioeconomic status (SES) from a metropolis (low SES, high SES, and mixed SES). The pivots were classified as natural elements, utensils, and toys. The results showed that: (i) the choice of pivots was associated with the available objects: Indian and seashore children used more natural elements; Indian children used more utensils and urban children, more toys; (ii) objects that were low structured suited a large variety of symbolic transformations; (iii) girls used more models of living beings, and boys, models of vehicles and weapons. In brief, the results indicate that the children, through the pivots, express their individuality and the values of their culture in their play.
make-believe play; toys; cultural differences; gender differences; pivots
