How Kids Learn to Play: 6 Stages of Play Development
How Kids Learn to Play: 6 Stages of Play Development
Play is all about having fun! Any activity, organized or unstructured, that your child finds fun and enjoyable is considered play. But play is much more than just a fun activity for your child, it’s how they learn about the world! As a child grows they go through different stages of play development.
Benefits of Play in Childhood Development
While playing, children learn and develop important skills they will continue to use throughout their lifetime. Some of these include:
Problem solving
Creativity
Willingness to take risks
Social-emotional skills
Children 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. When children play with each other, they are given the opportunity to learn how to interact with others and behave in various social situations. So be sure to give your child plenty of time and space to play!
Childhood Play Development Stages
There are 6 stages of play during early childhood, all of which are important for your child’s development. All of the stages of play involve exploring, being creative, and having fun. This list explains how children’s play changes by age as they grow and develop early childhood social skills.
1. Unoccupied Play (0-3 Months)
At this stage Baby is just making a lot of movements with their arms, legs, hands, feet, etc. They are learning about and discovering how their body moves. Most of Baby’s playtime should be spent in the Tummy Time position.
2. Solitary Play (0-2 Years)
This is the stage when a child plays alone (with close supervision from a caregiver). They are not interested in playing with others quite yet. Independent play has so many benefits, including self-exploration and creativity, so it’s important to keep encouraging this type of play as Baby gets older.
3. Spectator/Onlooker Behavior (2 Years)
During this stage, a child begins to watch other children playing but does not play with them. Your toddler may ask you questions about what they’re observing or even talk to the playing children directly, but they won’t join the action just yet.
4. Parallel Play (2+ Years)
When a child plays alongside or near others but does not play with them this stage is referred to as parallel play. This could look like two children playing with different toys in the same sandbox or a group of kids drawing on their own papers while sitting side-by-side. They are focused on their own journeys, but still aware of one another.
5. Associate Play (3-4 Years)
When a child starts to interact with others during play, but there is not a large amount of interaction at this stage. A child might be doing an activity related to the kids around them, but might not actually be interacting with another child. For example, kids might all be playing on the same piece of playground equipment but all doing different things like climbing, swinging, etc.
6. Cooperative Play (4+ Years)
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. As your child starts playing with siblings, family members, and friends, make sure to teach them about sharing and winning and losing.
Play starts when we are babies, but it does not stop there! Including play in your child’s daily routine and giving them time to play is important for their development at every age. These stages are general guidelines for what to expect of your child’s play skills, but remember every child is different. If you have concerns, bring them up with your healthcare provider.
More Resources on Child Play Development
Your child will go through a lot of changes as they grow. Learn more about how play can change as your little one does.
Sources
Parten MB Social Participation among Preschool Children. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 1932; 27 (3): 243–269.
