As children get older, the way they interact with other people during play will change. These changes are called 'stages of play'.
The 6 stages of play are:
- unoccupied
- playing alone
- onlooker
- parallel
- associative
- cooperative
Each stage is normal.
Every child is different and can go through theses stages at different times. If you are worried about your child, contact your public health nurse (PHN).
Unoccupied
This is when a baby moves for no reason, such as kicking their legs. This is the first sign of play.
You can encourage unoccupied play by letting your child move around. It also helps not to wrap them up while they are awake.
Playing alone
When children play alone, they explore the world around them. They do this by touching and tasting things. They also enjoy hearing their own voice.
You can encourage your child to explore by giving them a variety of safe and age appropriate toys.
Onlooker
This is when a child watches other children play, and does not join in. This is the first step in learning to play with others.
Onlooker play is a normal and a healthy part of development.
Parallel
Parallel play is when children play next to each other, but do not interact. This is a normal part of the learning to play process.
This usually happens between 2 and 3 years old.
Do not force children to play together. This will come with time.
Associative
Associative play is when children play together, but have different ideas and goals. For example, talking to each other and playing with the same toys, but doing different things.
This usually happens between 3 and 5 years old.
You can encourage associative play by taking your child to a playgroup.
Cooperative
Cooperative play is when children start working together towards a common goal. For example, building a block tower. This helps your child to develop social skills.
This usually happens between 4 and 6 years old.