Nearly all my blogs relate back to this, as well as the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).
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| Unoccupied Play |
Unoccupied play (Normally occurs in babies) - The child is relatively still, and is performing random movements with no apparent purpose whatsoever;
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| Solitary Play |
Solitary play (First occurs in the 2 - 3-year-olds) - Solitary play is where the child is quite happy to play by him or herself, and does not seem to take notice of any other child around him or her;
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| Onlooker Play |
Onlooker play (Babies +) - The child looks on at another child's play, may ask questions and/or talk to other children, but does not take part his or herself, as their intention is to purely watch.
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| Parallel Play |
Parallel play (Toddlers +) - two children sit side by side and play the same game and use the same tools or materials (eg both children may have a bucket and shovel each, and be digging holes in the sand), but do not interact with one another.
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| Associative (and Dramatic) Play |
Associative play (Preschool [3 to 4]) - The children are now more interested in their peers and their games, instead of their own, and the tools they are using. They may ask questions like "what are you making?"
This is the first type of play that actually involves interaction and communication, but they are still not playing with each other.
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| Co-Operative Play |
What sets this type of play apart from all others is that there's an actual goal they're working towards in their play, as well as organisation.
Eg. They might be building a tower out of blocks together, and negotiating where a certain block goes.
These stages are all the 6 types of play, and each type requires a certain amount of developmental skill (the next level more so than the previous).
Once acquired these developmental skills for these types of play, they can go back without losing what they've already acquired.
Dramatic play - Dramatic play is where you're pretending to be someone, other than yourself. It is also when you're playing with dolls and give them voices and a purpose.
2-year-olds will pick up a doll and wash it, or bring it around with them, pretending it's their baby. (They will most likely be playing by themselves, or parallel to another child.)
A 3-year-old might play in the sandpit and "cook" cupcakes (sand in a muffin pan). They might make cupcakes for another child, but this is still not associative or co-operative play, but solitary play, as they are playing by themselves, and apart from bringing the cupcakes over and saying "here you go" to another child (or you), they aren't interacting with anyone else.
A 4-year-old will be playing Mummy's and Daddy's, or Restaurants with other children, and negotiating roles (Co-operative play).
Children most often than not copy what they see (eg. Their own mum and dad, or their carers.)
If their family has traditional gender roles, the children will copy that; if they see that on TV, they will copy it..
Some children will copy what their carers do, whether it's by themselves, in a group, or with you. They might see you setting the table or reading a story and turning the pages everyday, so they want to do it too, so they follow you around and copy what you do.
Children are very observant and will pick up on the tiniest things and copy them exactly as they see or hear it, so you've got to keep in mind what you do or say, as it will be copied and it will stay with them.
They'll even report it back to their parents, not because they think it was right or wrong (children don't always know what's right and what's wrong; it needs to be instilled in them), but because that particular event stayed with them, and actually stuck out.
You, as a carer, may get into trouble if you really did do something wrong, or that they disagree with.
So, there are your types of play.
If I have missed anything, I will add it to this blog.
So, here are some questions for you, which reflect on what was said above:
1. In what age group(s) does associative play occur?
2. What about Co-operative? Can a toddler co-operate in co-operative play?
I mean, they are making cupcakes for their peers, bringing it over and saying "here you go."
If they can partake in co-operative play, why and how?
If they cannot, then why not, and what play do they partake in?
3. If a group of children are crowded around a chair and one person is holding up a book and pretending to be the teacher, what are they doing, and what kind of play are they partaking in (two come under here)?
4. If you cooked scrambled eggs this morning for breakfast, gave it to your child, made your child's lunch, packed his or her bag, raced out the door, and he or she did the exact same thing, what are they doing, and where did they learn it from?
Bibliography (follow the links):
6 Types of Play
Unoccupied Play photo
Solitary play photo
Onlooker Play photo
Parallel Play photo
Associative Play Photo
Co-Operative Play photo
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