Did You Know There Are 6 Stages of Play?

"Play is the highest form of research." - Albert Einstein

Are you worried your kids are not playing with others, are always alone in photos from daycare or school and not engaging with others at events? There is a reason… and it may not be one to worry about. Today my goal is to give you more of an understanding around the 6 stages of play!

Stage 1 - Unoccupied Play:

This type of play usually takes place in the infant stage where a baby is holding a rattle, dropping it and picking up another toy. Social interaction does not exist in this stage and there is no sustained focus and usually not any language involved.

Stage 2 - Solitary Play:

Children in this stage have more focus and are more sustained in their play, in this stage there are more social interactions between other children or adults. The play has no clear goals, they are more focused on what they are doing and more imaginary type play. They are watching how the world works around them while they play in their own world.

Stage 3 - Onlooker Play:

Children in this stage tend to sit near another child to observe, and listen to what the other children are doing. Observing types or shy children tend to watch longer before attempting to enter into play with others.

Stage 4 - Parallel Play:

This type of play is when two children are sitting beside each other but are not playing with each other. They could be using the same or different materials but are not interacting or communicating for long with each other.

Stage 5 - Associative Play:

Children in this stage are starting to acknowledge each other, work side by side, share with one another, they may copy each other, talk about what they are doing or say a random not play related thought. They are not playing together, but not in an organized way, they will communicate with one another but still do not have any clear goals in their play.

Stage 6 - Cooperative Play:

This is the end goal of play that your child will get to when they are developmentally ready. Play comes in stages and children are all in different play stages as they grow and develop! They start to socialize in this play, but often need a lot of guidance and emotional support. Children will play together, and will decide on what their roles are like, such as, you're the mom and she's the baby. It may look like building a Lego tower together or a game of hide and seek.

Humans are wired to play, and it’s in play that children will develop the skills they need for their future. Now that you have a basic understanding of the play stages, jump into our play series to dive deeper into learning how to support your child in each stage, understand the development taking place and how to recognize when your child has moved onto the next play stage.

For more early childhood development information and ways to support your babies milestones, check us out at:

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The information shared on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, professional, or legal advice. We are not healthcare professionals. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your child or family’s specific needs. Use of this information is at your own discretion. For full details, please visit our Legal page.