This study examined the relationship between child's ability to delay gratification and time spent in make-believe play in a sample of 39 3- to 5- year old children in a midwestern university community. Delay of gratification was determined in an experimental situation (Mischel, 1974). Children's play was assessed using a teacher questionnaire, a parent interview, a child interview, and videotaped preschool classroom observations. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to examine delay of gratification and all play measures. Children who spent more time in make-believe play were able to delay gratification longer than children who spent less time in make-believe play (r = .37, p = .025). There was a significant correlation between home make-believe play behavior as reported by the child and the parent and delay of gratification (r = .33, p = .047). School make-believe play was not significantly related to delay of gratification. Analysis of covariance found age, sex, family structure, ethnicity, childcare center, and mother education not significantly related to delay of gratification. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.