![]() When a child plays together with others and has interest in both the activity and other children involved in playing they are participating in cooperative play. For example, kids might all be playing on the same piece of playground equipment but all doing different things like climbing, swinging, etc. A child might be doing an activity related to the kids around him, but might not actually be interacting with another child. When a child starts to interact with others during play, but there is not a large amount of interaction at this stage. When a child plays alongside or near others but does not play with them this stage is referred to as parallel play. Spectator/Onlooker Behavior (2 Years)ĭuring this stage a child begins to watch other children playing but does not play with them. They are not interested in playing with others quite yet. This is the stage when a child plays alone. They are learning about and discovering how their body moves. Unoccupied Play (Birth-3 Months)Īt this stage baby is just making a lot of movements with their arms, legs, hands, feet, etc. This list explains how children’s play changes by age as they grow and develop social skills. All of the stages of play involve exploring, being creative, and having fun. There are 6 stages of play during early childhood, all of which are important for your child’s development. Learn more about your child’s social-emotional development.īe sure to give your child plenty of time and space to play. When children play with each other, they are given the opportunity to learn how to interact with others and behave in various social situations. Is your child under 2 years old? Enter your baby’s birthday to get weekly activities to help meet developmental milestones.Ĭhildren who use their imagination and ‘play pretend’ in safe environments are able to learn about their emotions, what interests them, and how to adapt to situations. Problem solving, creativity, and willingness to take risks are just a few of the skills developed through play. ![]() While playing, children learn and develop important skills they will continue to use throughout their lifetime. But play is much more than just a fun activity for your child! As a child grows they go through different stages of play development. Don’t hesitate to talk to an expert such as your child’s pediatrician or teacher if you have concerns.Play is all about having fun! Any activity, organized or unstructured, your child finds fun and enjoyable is considered play. If a child ONLY plays by himself, it may indicate a problem. However, the need to develop social and communication skills requires a balance. Note: It is OK for kids to frequently engage in solitary play. No need to teach or preach, just enjoy the experience. Let the kids set the pace and become a part of their world. It is important that parents spend time playing with their children. Adults should only intervene when children exhibit the need for coaching on social and problem solving skills.įinally, children also like to play with adults. The children not adults should institute play themes and structure. They also develop the ability to collaborate on the “theme” of the play activity. ![]() Through interactive play they begin to learn social skills such as sharing and taking turns. They are potty trained, able to communicate and socialize with others. Even though it may appear that they don’t care about the presence of the other children, just try separating them and you will see this contact from a far is very important to them.īy the age of three, children are ready for preschool. They may be engaged in similar activities or totally different activities but they like being around others their own age. They hopefully will also like to read and even write on their own.įrom the age of two to about three, children move to playing alongside other children without much interaction with each other. They like to build, draw, paint, invent and explore by themselves. They may spend hours making up stories with their GI Joes or Barbie Dolls. Older children at times will also prefer to play on their own. They want to gaze upon, grab, suck and rattle any object that comes their way. They are exploring all aspects of their environment from the sound of their own voice and the feel of their own body parts to those of others. The way most children play usually varies from day to day and situation to situation.īabies usually like to spend much of their time playing on their own. How an older child chooses to play may depend on how they feel at the moment or a personal preference. As children develop they will move from individual play to group play.
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