Unlike Jean Piaget who saw children's drama in largely intellectual or cognitive developmental terms, Parten highlighted the concept that learning to play with is learning how to relate to other people. Certain types of play are related to specific age groups, even though all types of play occur at almost any age. Play is the way children interact and learn more about the world, and also several types of play are needed to completely engage a child's social, physical, and intellectual improvement.

Parten's Social Stages of Play


1. Unoccupied play
Generally found from birth to about three months, infants busy themselves with play. Infants seem to make random movements with no clear purpose, and might appear to only be observing, but this is the initial form of enjoying.
2. Solitary play
From three to 18 months, kids will spend a lot of their time playing by themselves. During solitary play, children do not appear to notice other kids playing or sitting nearby. They are exploring their own planet by viewing, grabbing and touching objects. Solitary play starts in infancy and is common in toddlers. But, it is important for all age groups to have time for alone playwith.
3. Onlooker play
Onlooker play happens most often during the toddler years. A child watches other kids play and acquires new language skills through listening and observation, while learning how to interact with other people. Although kids may ask questions of other children or make remarks, there is no effort to combine the play. This sort of play usually starts during toddler years but can take place at any given age.
4. Parallel play
By the age of 18 months to two decades, children begin to play along with other children, often mimicking them, but with no interaction. Additionally, it helps children get the understanding of the idea of real estate ownership, including the concept of what's"theirs" and what belongs to"others"
This is also when they begin to reveal their need to be together with other kids their own age. Parallel play is usually found with toddlers, although it occurs in any age group.
5. Associative play
When children are about three to four years old, they become more interested in other kids than their own toys. Children start socializing with other kids. Associative play is when the child is interested in the people playing but maybe not in coordinating their activities with those people, or perhaps necessarily organizing their actions in any way. Associative play aids children further develop the art of sharing, language creation, problem-solving abilities and cooperation. During associative play, kids within the group have similar goals. But, they don't set rules and there's no formal association.
6. Social/cooperative play
Children around the age of three are starting to interact with other children. They are interested in both the kids around them, and in the actions they're doing. By interacting with other children in play settings, a child learns social rules such as give-and-take and collaboration. Kids begin to share toys and ideas, and follow established guidelines and rules. They start to learn to use moral reasoning to develop a sense of values. Activities are organized and participants have assigned roles. Group identities may emerge, much like make-believe games.
Past Parten's Stages, play may also be clarified by these additional categories or types of activities children can participate in through play.
7. Motor -- Physical Play
Physical play offers a chance for kids to develop muscular strength, coordination, and workout and develop their own bodies appropriately, while keeping healthy weight. Kids also learn to take turns and take losing or winning.
8. Constructive Play
Within this kind of play, kids build and create things. Constructive play begins in infancy and becomes more complex as your child grows. As a toddler, children start building things with blocks or stacking toys, drawing or stacking loose parts like wood or pinecones on the park. Throughout constructive play, children explore objects, discover patterns, and problem solve, to discover what works and what does not. They gain confidence manipulating objects, and practice creating ideas and working with numbers and concepts.
9. Expressive Play
Kids learn to express emotions and feelings during expressive play.
10.
Children learn how to produce and envision beyond their entire world during fantasy play. They may assume adult roles and learn how to think in abstract ways. Kids stretch their imaginations and use new words and numbers to communicate theories, imaginations and historic concepts. Children can re-enact situations, experimentation with languages, and learn how to express emotions during fantasy play. They're also able to work out psychological issues by projecting them on a dream situation.
11. Competitive Play
Competitive play begins from the late adolescence interval. The play is organized by group objectives and based rules. There's at least one leader, and children are definitely in or outside of this group.
Children are moving out of a self-centered world to an understanding of the importance of social interactions and rules.
12.
When kids play electronic video games or computer-based learning programs, they're engaging in a kind of solitary play. There is not any social interaction or consequences. If excessive, virtual play frequently negatively impacts a child's executive function and social skills, including eye contact and attention span.
It's important to allow children to take part in each of these types of play for their overall emotional, intellectual, and physical development. A number of these types of play will begin in the house, but some types 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 imagining which styles of play have yet to be introduced at home, and offer them the chance to grow by visiting your local park or indoor playground supplier.