Is It Real or a Toy? Preschoolers' Understanding of the Reality Status of Fantasy Characters' Magical Items

Barcelona, Spain · May 2026

Posters · Development & Change Across the Lifespan

Shohei Tomita
Mie University
Yoshida Wakana
Kariya City Nursery School

Abstract

We examined preschooler's understanding of the reality and authenticity of magical toy items possessed by fantasy characters. Participants were 55 children aged 4, 5, and 6. Unlike 5- and 6-year-olds, 4-year-olds tended to believe that magical items exist in the real world and that the toys were real (not toys).

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Is It Real or a Toy? Preschoolers' Understanding of the Reality Status of Fantasy Characters' Magical Items

Abstract

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