Theory of mind

Theory of mind is the understanding that individuals have mental states that not always is accessible to others or the public and this may guide other people behavior. Children from age 4 to 5 years old start recognising that minds are separate and that may hold different thoughts. They understand that beliefs are merely mental representation of reality and start recognizing the public and the self as diferent and are more aware of how other individual can differ in their thoughts and desires. Social experiences can foster the development this theory, such as Pretended play and family.
Pretended play is an activity that prompts children to think about mental states. They start making mental representantions of an object pretending to be another or performing other social roles such as cops, robbers and thier super hero spiderman. Children when use their mental representaition in role play, they start acting, talking and pretending to be someone esle, which help them understand not everyone have the same attitudes, behavior, desires, beliefs and thoughts. Cops and robbers for example are two individuals who are different from one another and have different set of mind; therefore role play helps the child see this difference.
Family can also foster Theory of mind in children by doing family discussions in conflict with other member in their family. For example, how their sibilings might be feeling, what motives, intention and beliefs other siblings. The more often mothers talk about other people's mental states with their infants, toddlers and preschoolers, the more likely children are able to recognize the different mental states of others and develop understanding toward other people set of mind. Also, kids who have older brother are more likely to develop a quicker acquisition of this theory than other childrens are because they learn from their sibling and are exposed to more complex pretended play and interact with older siblings how already are succesful at understanding theory of mind of others, who influence and help their younger siblings to do so.