Stages of Play in Children
Are you concerned about your child’s development? Do you want to learn more about the stages of play in children so you know what to expect? Play is critical for healthy child development.
If you worry about how your child plays and how they interact with their environment, it is okay! Every parent is anxious regarding the constantly changing behavior and daily activities of their young ones.
Play time is not just a fun activity for children. Play helps to develop important motor skills, social-emotional skills, language and more! In addition, children learn problem-solving and creativity. These abilities can help children throughout their lifetime.
You see, play is a source of learning!
What are the 6 Stages of Play?
Way back in 1932, Mildred B. Parten developed a system for classifying participation in play (Parten, 1932). This organization of play is still used today to describe how play develops in children (Gander, Mary and Harry W. Gardiner, 1981).There are 6 developmental stages of play in children.
1. Unoccupied Stage of Play (Birth – 3 months)
Unoccupied play is seen in the earliest months of an infant. It is characterized by the ordinary movements performed by the babies.
This is the initial stage of play in which the babies figure out how to move their body and interact with their environment.
Key qualities include:
- Lack of social cooperation
- Lack of supported core interest
- No clear storylines during the play
- The use of language is non-existent or exceptionally restricted
Examples of Unoccupied play include:
- A baby touching toys around them
- A child kicking or swatting at objects
2. Solitary play (3 months – 2 ½ years)
Solitary play is the second stage of play and it is when children play alone with little interest in other children or toys outside of the nearby area.
Although this stage is called solitary play, it is more engaged and supported than unoccupied play. During this phase, kids have little interest in grown-ups or different kids while playing.
Key qualities include:
- Increased interest in toys
- Emerging play stories, like utilization of representative play (utilizing objects to address different items, like push around a block to pretend it is a vehicle)
- Lack of interest in different kids or grown-ups during play
- Unstructured play which lacks clear objectives
Examples of Solitary play include:
- Two kids playing with their toys, yet never taking a glance at or showing any interest in one another
- A baby who has built up the capacity to show interest in one toy for over 60 seconds
- children walking through a playground, observing their surroundings
Even after a child has developed further types of play, the solitary play keeps on being used. Indeed, even in adulthood, we play alone to re-energize, reflect, and dream.
3. Onlooker Stage of Play (2 ½ years – 3 ½ years)
Onlooker play is the main indication of children showing interest in play practices of different kinds.
During this stage, toddlers will notice other kids playing without getting involved themselves. They will regularly sit nearby so they can hear other children’s discussions.
Key qualities include:
- Children showing interest in other children’s play
- Observing and learning
- Withholding from play due to fear, disinterest, or hesitation.
Examples of Onlooker play include:
- Younger kids in a classroom watching other children play but they do not engage
- Adults watching a game
Observing and noticing are incredible types of learning. For instance, Canadian American psychologist Albert Bandura showed the force of perception through his bobo doll tests.
In these examinations, kids would notice grown-ups playing with dolls. Kids who saw other kids being forceful toward the dolls were more forceful when playing with their dolls.
4. Parallel Stage of Play (3 ½ years – 4 years)
The parallel play stage of play follows onlooker play. It includes children playing near each other yet not together. They will, in general, share toys and notice each other in useful ways. However, they won’t have similar gameplay or objectives while playing.
Key qualities include:
- Playing in a similar room and with similar toys but not together
- Independent investigation and revelation
- Observing and impersonating
- Having separate objectives and centers during play
- Minimal interaction with different kids
Examples of Parallel Play include:
- A sibling and sister are playing with a similar Lego set yet developing various structures
- Children sharing brushes and paints, but painting on various materials
5. Associative Stage of Play (4 – 4 ½ years)
Associative play arises when children start recognizing each other and working next to each other. However, they still do not play together.
The associative play contrasts from parallel play since children start to share, recognize, duplicate, and work with each other at this stage.
The children still don’t yet share mutual objectives during play – as such, they’re not yet playing ‘together’ in any substantial way.
Key qualities include:
- Negotiating the sharing of toys and objects
- Emerging conversation. The young ones pose questions to each other about their play
- Children play autonomously with various destinations and procedures
- Mimicking and observation continue to occur from a closer distance
Examples of Associative Play include:
- Children asking questions to others about their play, what they’re doing, and how they’re doing it.
- Children acknowledging that there are not enough toys or objects so they begin to negotiate with each other
6. Cooperative Play (4 ½ years and up)
The cooperative stage of play begins soon after associated play and is coordinated play.
During this stage, you would see children playing together playing similar games. The young ones will have similar objectives; even assigning each other jobs in the game and work together to accomplish their goals.
This stage involves higher level social skills and friendships. Children may require support, guided practice, and framework to create positive social skills like sharing, turn-taking, and communicating.
Key qualities include:
- Cooperating during a typical game
- Sharing a toy or object during gameplay
- Establishing group jobs or engaging in pretend play
Examples of Cooperative Play include:
- Imaginative play, where children assume the roles of their favorite characters or people in different settings
- Board game play where children need to follow simple rules and take turns.
- Simple organized sports
Conclusion:
Play is an essential part of children’s lives, and it has significant effects on their growth and development. It is not just fun and games but it plays an important role in a child’s development. Parents and educators can help to encourage play throughout all of the developmental stages of play.
References for the 6 Stages of Play:
Gander, Mary J. and Harry W. Gardiner (1981). Child and adolescent development. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
Parten, M.B. (1932). Social participation among pre-school children. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 27(3), 243-269.
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