The stages of play

The stages of play

Children discover and learn about their world through play. Play develops imagination and creativity, and gives children practice in the social skills they need in our world. Children do not play for reward or because someone told them to, they play because they like it. Children learn the skills of socializing with one another in social play. By playing with one another children will learn social rules such as waiting, taking turns, cooperation, and sharing. Children go through stages of play as they grow.

Stages of play is a theory and classification of children’s participation in play, developed by Mildred Parten in 1932. Based on observations of American preschool (2-5 yo) children at free play, Parten recognized six different types of play.

Onlooker play

When the child watches others play but does not engage in it. May engage in social interaction about the play, without actually joining in the activity.
Unoccupied play

When the child is not playing, just observing. He may be engaged in seemingly random movements, with no objective. However this is still play and sets the stage for future play exploration. (new-borns)
Solitary (Independent) play

A child is in a room full of other children, but he/she is playing alone and not paying attention to anyone

Example: A child playing with blocks alone in a corner
Parallel play

Children are playing the same game or activity. They are playing next to each other, but they are not talking or doing the same activity.

Example: Two or more children playing with blocks near each other, but not talking to each other
Associative play

Children are playing the same game, but they are not working together or connecting with one another. – Interested in people playing the game but not in coordinating their activities with them.

Example: Two or more children playing with blocks, building the same thing, talking with each other but not working together to create something. – Building a city, making individual buildings.
Cooperative play

Children are working together to play a game. – Interest in both the people playing and in the activity they are doing.

Example: two or more children are playing with blocks, building the same thing, talking with each other and working together to create something.
Or building a jigsaw, playing a board game..

According to Parten, as children become older, improving their communication skills, and as opportunities for peer interaction become more common, the non-social (solitary and parallel) types of play become less common, and the social (associative and cooperative) types of play become more common.

Alternative explanations suggest that types of play may be influenced by other circumstances, such as how well the children know one another.

Age
Stage (type of play)
Explanation
0-2 years
Solitary
He plays alone – limited interaction with other children
2-2 ½ years
Spectator (onlooker)
Observes other children playing around him but not play with them
2 ½ - 3 years
Parallel
Play alongside others, but will not play together with them
3-4 years
Associative
Starts to interact with others in their play
4-6+ years
Co-operative
Plays together with shared aims of play.