About Being Plangry
Plangry is a term of art describing play anger. In plangry play, players pretend to express anger and related strong emotions. This play attempts masking Play Face with I Want To Eat You Face. Such play may seem very real to an observer since much of the activity revolves around recreating the body language, facial expressions, language, and tone of real anger.
Some examples:
- “Let’s play I’m-the-Dad-and-I’m-mad-you-won’t-drink-your-orange-juice-because-I-poured-the-kind-with-pulp.”
- “How about you’re a dragon that’s upset because I stealed your gold and rubies.”
- “We’re going to be heroes that are mad at each other and decide to settle it with a fight.”
Playing at being angry is a safe opportunity to toy with strong emotions often looked upon as negative. In the safe harbor of play, children have a chance to experience both feeling and expressing these strong emotions (“You be the grandma and tell me we have to play at home and I’ll get upset.”) as-well-as being the recipient of such emotions (“You be the angry king. Yell at me and send me to the dungeon for making you mad.”).
Playing at being plangry is also a way to get attention. Picture a seven-year-old pretending to be upset at a younger sibling’s birthday party to grab some attention from Aunt Agnes.
Such play is preparation and practice for a lifetime of managing and receiving strong emotions. Playing “Mom is grumpy and mad because the baby won’t go to sleep” is preparation for when Mom really gets mad.
With young children this type of play is most noticeable in dramatic play spaces but is observable in block play, game play, and even at the painting easel if you keep an eye out for it. Children may also play at being plangry in social situations. Pretending to be upset at a peer or parent about something that’s not really upsetting, for example.
Adults play Plangry as well– with children and with other adults.
Animals also engage in Plangry play—picture a pile of 8-week-old chocolate lab puppies growling and snarling as they tug and tumble with each other.
Contribute content to Playvolution HQ
Brought to you by Explorations Early Learning
Thoughts On This Entry?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on improving this entry, your reaction to it, and suggestions for additional glossary additions in the comments below. You can also contact us with comments or concerns.
Browse Trainings
Author
Jeff Johnson is an early learning trainer, podcaster, and author and the founder of Explorations Early Learning and Playvolution HQ.
-
Jeff Johnsonhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/jeff-johnson/
-
Jeff Johnsonhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/jeff-johnson/
-
Jeff Johnsonhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/jeff-johnson/
-
Jeff Johnsonhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/jeff-johnson/
-
Jeff Johnsonhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/jeff-johnson/
-
Jeff Johnsonhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/jeff-johnson/
Thanks To Our Patrons
This post was made possible by patrons like these, who generously fund our work:
Supporters
Lissadell Greene Stephanie Goloway
Lagina Kozak Michelle Hankins
Fans
Jen Flemming Lizz Nolasco
Susan Warner Kelly Sigalove
Vittoria Jimerson Codee Gilbert
Monica Morrell Pam Soloman Melissa Franklin
Teresa Watson Erika Felt
Melissa Taylor Jahmeela Robinson
Amber Maurina Terra Calamari
Lagina Kozak Samantha Yeager-Cheevers
Elizebeth McCoy Sammy Cousens Ellen Cogan
Leave a Reply