Preschool Protolore
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Abstract
The folklore of preschool age children exists in a germinal form. Because preschoolers are generally non-literate and their thinking abilities are largely undeveloped, and because their social skills are just beginning to be acquired, their play and game lore is rudimentary. It could be called "protolore" in the same way that riddles composed and performed by young children are called "preriddles." Rather than follow specific actions or prescribed word formulae, the preschooler most often invents extemporaneously within a given, peer-understood structure. Thus, the group game I record in which the "family" –two or more children—is pursued by the "bear"—one child—demonstrates the structure, elements, and excitement of hide and seek and chase even though no specific rules or incantations accompany the game. Likewise, verbal play, in which a word or words are spoken by a child and picked up and played upon by the others who rhyme or repeat the original word(s) in a chant-like way, is structured and systematic, though no prescribed or learned rhyme or chant is spoken. I will describe and analyze three examples of preschool protolore. My material was gathered from observation of children enrolled in my preschool in Auburn, California.
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