Transformative Aesthetic Dimensions in Young Boys’ War Play: Exploring the World Through Kinesthetic Musicality

Abstract How can children's war play be understood and interpreted by adults? In this article that is based on my doctoral thesis, I move from the specific analysis of movement in war play towards the theoretical concept of kinesthetic musicality. Because physical war play is a phenomenon that engages primarily young boys, my study focused on boys who were three to nine years old. The project was a film–ethnographic study, and what emerged in my early observations was a great physical awareness, embodied intelligence, and, in moments, actual choreographies. Because movement seemed to be one of the most central dimensions in young children's war play, I adopted a dance theoretical framework for my analysis. Six categories of movement were formulated, and they all connect in one core concept: kinesthetic musicality. It is a concept that describes children's embodied musicality, a playful musicality that creates connections to and participation in the world.