DEFINITION OF

PLAY
is the work of children. It consists of those

activities performed for self-amusement that

have
ehavioral, social, and psychomotor rewards.
It is
child-directed, and the rewards come
from within the
individual child; it is enjoyable and
TYPES OF
PLAY
Age Play Type Explanation Of The Stages Of Play During
0-2 Years Solitary Child
He Development
plays alone. There is limited interaction
with other children.
2 to 2 and half Years Spectator Observe other children playing around him
but will not play with them.

2 and half to 3 Years Parallel Play alongside others but will not play
together with them.

3-4 Years Associate Starts to interact with others in their play and
there may be fleeting co-operation between
in play. Develops friendships and the
preferences for playing with some but not all
other children. Play is normally in mixed sex
groups.

4 – 6+ Years Co-operative Plays together with shared aims of play with

others. Play may be quite difficult and he's
supportive of other children in his play. As he
reaches primary school age, play is normally
in single sex groups.
 Age Stages Of Play During Child
Development
Ø
0-6
months
ØLooks at adults closely.
ØPut things into mouth and touch things with his
hands.
ØPlays alone with toys for instance rattles,
shakers and
banging things with both hands
.
6 - 12
months
ØExplores through the mouth and hands by touching
objects.
ØLooks at and imitate adults.
ØCopy movements... for instance dropping objects.
 12 - 18
months
Ø
ØLearns through trial and error for instance
banging two objects and finding out the sounds
it makes.
Ø
ØRepeat actions that he has enjoyed.
Ø
ØStarts to play with grown-ups and notice other
children.
ØPlays and ‘talks’ alone.
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
 18 months - 2 years
ØExplore things with his mouth.
Ø
ØLearns through trial and error.
Ø
ØCopys other children and adults.

ØLooks at other children playing but does not join

in the play.

ØLikes playing with adults as well as by himself.

ØLikes repetitive actions such as putting objects

in and out of
boxes and scribbling on many pages.
 2 – 3
years

ØBegins to use symbols in his play such as a

stick becoming a
sword.
ØStarts to play alongside other children.

ØStarts to show some reasoning skills… may still

learn by trial
and error.

ØCopies adults and other children.

Ø
ØMuch of his play is ‘imaginative’ for instance
 3 - 4
years

ØRecognizes shapes, letters and colours.

Ø
ØSolves jigsaw puzzles through mixture of
thinking and trial
and error.

ØPlays co-operatively together and take turns with

other
children.

ØShows more reasoning skills and asking questions

for
instance ‘why’ and ‘how
Ø
ØPlays imaginatively for instance playing in the
 4 – 6
years

ØBegins to use and understand symbols for

instance writing and reading.
Ø
ØShows much understanding and uses reason related
to his experiences.

ØBegins to understand simple rules in games.

ØPlays co-operatively, taking turns and enjoying

table-top games.
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
 6 – 8
years

ØEnjoys playing with small groups and making up

his own
games with rules.

ØEnjoys playing co-operative games but not usually

coping
with losing.

ØLikes to play with children of his own sex.

Enjoys using rules and understanding.