Play is the highest form of childhood. -Albert Einstein

Play is the work of the child – Maria Montessori

Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul. – Frobel

A child’s greatest achievements are possible in play, achievements that tomorrow will become her basic level of real action – Lev Vygotsky.

In the 1930s, Mildred Parten at the University of Minnesota Institute of Child development conducted research on how children of different ages played together. After that, she formulated how children learn to develop these skills in six different stages. This classification is accepted mainly by everyone.

Play is the lifeline of children’s learning.

Play is very significant in children’s holistic development when playing; children make many movements by reaching objects and exploring how to use them. The exact time using different sensory resources such as sand, clay, wood, and other materials, learn how they differ.

While playing, children exploring their environment what is around them. Especially when they play in earlier stages, playing with fewer toys and repeating the patterns will help them connect their brains. Through play, children conceive new ideas and learn how to solve problems.

Play is an enjoyable experience for children. During play, children learn how to regulate their emotions, and at the same time, it gives a great sense of achievement. While playing, children learn how to play cooperatively with other children to be members of the group.

Stages of play 

Unoccupied play. 

In this kind of play, children have not been involved any form of play, but they just observe around them. They just stand in one place and performing some casual movements. Children are simply exploring the environment around them. It allows them to practice manipulating skills and learn how the surroundings work around them. This is the foundation play stage of the other five phases of play.

Solitary play 

solitary play is also known as independent play; children play independently and focus on their own activities. They have not been socially developed to play with others and choose to play alone on their own. Solitary play allows children to master their motor and cognitive skills. It will enable them to use their imaginations. Play alone initiates a sense of creativity, concentration, persistence, and completion.

Onlooker play 

Onlooker play is typical in younger children. Babies and toddlers are interested in this kind of play, like watching what others doing, and they don’t want to join and engage in the play. Even sometimes older children will also be involved in this kind of play. When they participate in the new group for the first time, they watch others before joining in. It allows children to learn more about the world.

Parallel play

Parallel play happens when children play side-by-side but do not interact and continue their play. They share the space but are involved together and play in their own toys/play material. They may talk to each other, but their conversation does not engage each other. Most of the time, this stage brings a bridge between solitary play and social play.

Associative play 

Associative play where mostly happen before social play. In this stage, where pre-schooler starts interaction with other children. They use the skills learned in their previous stages. Children engage in joint activities but not working or playing together.

Cooperative play.

The cooperative play focuses on children play without an adult and work together with their peers. Children can make meaningful relationships with their peers and making play structures, creating something in role play. In this stage of space, they can negotiate with each other and sense their own identity. Same time child tries to learn mutual compromise, teamwork, and fair play. Mostly it happens when children age 4-5 years old.

I have given general guidelines about different stages of play in this article including play in children’s everyday routine, which is important for their development during early years. However, every child is unique and they develop at their own pace.