Stages of Imaginative Play

Play is essential to children’s healthy development.  As children grow and develop they go through different stages of play.  In each of these stages they are learning important skills that will help them become healthy, well adjusted individuals.

The stages of play include:

• solitary play

• parallel play

• associate play

• cooperative play

Solitary Play:

Children are in the stage of solitary play from birth to 2 years.  In this stage children  do not yet play with other children but are simply focused on what they are doing and learning.  This is a critical stage of development as children begin to understand the world around them.

Parallel Play:

Between the ages of 2 and 3 children are in the stage of parallel play.  In this stage children become more aware of other children and want to be near them.  They will play beside others but not with them at this point.

Associate Play:

Children are in the stage of associate play from age 3 to age 4.  In this stage children start to interact more with one another and want to do the same things as their peers.  For example: ride bikes together, build a tower, do an art project.

Cooperative Play:

Children enter the stage of cooperative play around age 4 and continue in it throughout childhood.  In this stage children enter into full interaction with peers during play.  They want to play games together, do projects together and laugh and joke with one another.  And they love using their imaginations in pretend play with each other.

Enjoy watching your children as they go through the stages of play and seek to find ways to enhance their imaginative play along the way.

~ Sarah