In the 1930s, researcher Mildred Parten defined play six stages which imitate children's social growth. Unlike Jean Piaget who saw children's drama in primarily intellectual or cognitive terms, Parten emphasized the idea that learning how to play with is learning how to interact with other people. As children grow and develop, play evolves. Particular varieties of play are associated with specific age groups, even though all kinds of play happen at almost any age. Play is the way children interact and learn more about the world, and also different kinds of play are needed to fully 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 occupied themselves with play. Infants appear to make arbitrary movements with no clear purpose, and might seem to only be celebrating, but this really is the first kind of playing.
2. Solitary play
In the three to 18 months, children will spend much of their time playing on their own. During solitary play, kids don't appear to notice other children sitting or playing nearby. They are researching their own planet by viewing, touching and grabbing items. They could often become deeply immersed in the action,"tuning out" the entire world around them. But, it's essential for all age groups to have some time for alone play.
3. Onlooker play
Onlooker play occurs most frequently during the toddler years. A kid watches other kids play and acquires new language skills through listening and observation, while learning how to relate to other people. Although children may ask questions of other children or make remarks, there's absolutely no attempt to combine the drama. This sort of play generally begins during toddler years but can occur at any age.
4. Parallel play
From age 18 months to two decades, children begin to play along with other children, often mimicking thembut without any interaction. Parallel play provides young children with opportunities for role-playing. It also helps kids get the comprehension of this notion of property ownership, including the concept of what's"theirs" and that which goes to"others."
Additionally, this is when they start to reveal their need to be together with other kids their own age. Parallel play is generally found with toddlers, although it occurs in any age category.
5. Associative play
When children are about three to four decades old, they become more interested in other children than their own toys. Children start socializing with other kids. Associative play is when the child is interested in the folks playing but maybe not in coordinating their actions with these people, or even necessarily organizing their actions at all. Associative play helps kids further develop the art of sharing, language development, problem-solving abilities and collaboration. During associative play, kids inside the group have similar objectives. But, they don't set rules and there's not any formal organization.
6. Social/cooperative play
Children around the age of three are beginning to socialize with other kids. They are interested in the kids around themand in the actions they're doing. By interacting with other kids in play preferences, a child learns social rules such as give-and-take and collaboration. Children begin to share toys and ideas, and follow established guidelines and rules. They begin to learn how to use moral reasoning to develop a sense of values. Activities are coordinated and participants have assigned roles. Group identities might emerge, much like make-believe games.
Past Parten's Stages, play may also be described by these extra categories or kinds of activities kids can engage in through play.
7.
When children run, jump, and play games like hide-and-seek and label, they are engaging in physical play. Physical play offers a chance for children to develop muscle strength, coordination, and workout and develop their own bodies while maintaining healthy weight. Kids also learn how to take turns and take winning or losing.
8. Constructive Play
In this type of play, kids construct and create things. Constructive play begins in infancy and becomes even more complicated as your child develops. Throughout constructive play, kids explore objects, find patterns, and problem solve, to discover exactly what works and what does not. They gain confidence manipulating objects, and exercise producing ideas and working together with numbers and theories.
9. Expressive Play
Children learn to express feelings and emotions during play.
10. Fantasy / Dramatic Play
Kids learn how to create and imagine beyond their world through fantasy play. They might assume adult roles and learn to think in abstract ways. Children stretch their imaginations and use new words and numbers to express theories, imaginations and historic concepts. Children can re-enact situations, experiment with languages, and learn to communicate feelings during fantasy play. They can also work out emotional issues by projecting them on a dream situation.
11. Aggressive Play
Competitive play begins in the late adolescence interval. The drama is organized by group objectives and based rules. There is at least one leader, and children are definitely in or out of the group.
Kids are moving from a self-centered world to an awareness of the value of social interactions and principles. Part of this development occurs when they know games such as Tag, Follow the Leader, Simon Says, and group sports.
12. Virtual / Digital Play
When kids play electronic video games or computer-based learning applications, they're engaging in a form of solitary playwith. There's not any social interaction or consequences. If excessive, virtual play often negatively affects a child's executive functioning and social skills, including eye contact and attention span.
It is important to allow children to take part in each these styles of play due to their overall psychological, intellectual, and physical development. Many of these types of play will start in the house, but a few forms can only start in pre-schools, daycare centers, or outside in public parks and on the playground. Ensure your child's well-being by imagining which types of play have to be introduced at home, and offer them the opportunity to grow by visiting the regional park or park.