Contrary to Jean Piaget who saw children's drama in primarily intellectual or cognitive developmental terms, Parten highlighted the idea that learning how to play with is learning how to interact with others. As children grow and grow, play evolves. Particular varieties of play are related to particular age groups, even though all types of play occur at any age. Play is the way children interact and explore the world, and different types of play are needed to fully engage a child's social, physical, and intellectual development.

Parten's Social Stages of Play


1. Unoccupied play
Generally found from birth to about three months, infants occupied themselves with unoccupied play. Infants seem to make arbitrary movements without a obvious purpose, and may seem to only be celebrating, but this really is the first form of playing.
2. Solitary play
In the three to 18 months, children will spend a lot of the time playing on their own. During solitary play, kids don't appear to notice other children playing or sitting nearby. They are exploring their own world by watching, touching and grabbing objects. They could often become deeply immersed in the activity,"tuning out" the world around them. However, it is important for all age groups to have some time for lonely playwith.
3. Onlooker play
Onlooker play occurs most often during the toddler years. A child watches other children play and acquires new language skills through observation and listening, while learning how to interact with others. Although children may ask questions of other children or make comments, there's absolutely no effort to join the drama. This sort of play usually begins during toddler years but may take place at any given age.
4. Parallel play
By age 18 months to two years, children begin to play along with other children, often mimicking thembut without any interaction. Parallel play offers young children with opportunities for role-playing. Additionally, it helps children get the understanding of the notion of property ownership, including the idea of what's"theirs" and that which belongs to"others"
This is also when they begin to show their requirement to be together with other kids their own age. Parallel play is generally found with toddlers, although it happens in any age group.
5. Associative play
When kids are about a few decades of age, they become more interested in other children than their toys. Children start socializing with other kids. Associative play is when the child is considering the folks playing but maybe not in coordinating their actions with these folks, or even necessarily organizing their activities at all. During associative drama, children inside the team have similar goals. However, they don't set rules and there's no formal organization.
6. Social/cooperative play
Children around age three are starting to interact with other kids. They are interested in the kids around themand in the activities they're doing. By interacting with other kids in play preferences, a child learns social rules like give-and-take and collaboration. Children begin to discuss toys and thoughts, and follow established guidelines and rules. They start to learn how to use moral reasoning to develop a sense of values. Tasks are organized and participants have assigned roles. Group identities may emerge, as with make-believe games.
Beyond Parten's Stages, play can also be described by these additional categories or kinds of activities kids can engage in through play.
7.
Physical play offers an opportunity for kids to develop muscular strength, coordination, and workout and develop their own bodies appropriately, while maintaining healthy weight. Children also learn to take turns and accept losing or winning.
8. Constructive Play
In this kind of play, children construct and make things. Constructive play starts in infancy and becomes even more complex as your child grows. Throughout constructive play, kids explore objects, find patterns, and problem solve, to find exactly what works and what doesn't. They gain confidence manipulating objects, and practice producing ideas and working with numbers and concepts.
9. Expressive Play
Children learn to express emotions and feelings during play. Art, music, and writing help children develop imagination and symbolic communication through play.
10. Fantasy / Dramatic Play
Children learn how to produce and imagine beyond their world during fantasy play. Kids Play can re-enact scenarios, experimentation with languages, and learn how to communicate feelings during fantasy play. They can also work out emotional issues by throwing them on a dream situation.
11. Aggressive Play
Competitive play starts in the late preschool period. The play is organized by group goals and established rules. There is at least one chief, and children are in or out of the group.
Children are moving out of a self-centered world to an awareness of the value of social interactions and principles.
12. Virtual / Digital Play
When children play digital video games or even computer-based learning applications, they're engaging in a form of solitary play. There's not any social interaction or effects. If excessive, virtual play often negatively impacts a child's executive function and social skills, such as eye contact and attention span.
It's important to allow children to engage in each these styles of play for their general emotional, intellectual, and physical development. Many of these types of play will start in the home, but some forms can only start in pre-schools, rehab centers, or outside in public parks and on the park. Make sure your child's well-being by noting which types of play have yet to be introduced in your home, and provide them the opportunity to grow by visiting your regional park or playground.