Children go through different stages of play as they grow and develop. Very young babies only have the ability to pay attention to one object at a time. Once an object is out of sight, it is quickly forgotten. Babies play alone because they are so busy exploring and discovering their new world. Each new object or situation that is introduced is a new learning experience for the newborn. This first stage of the game is called “Solitary Game” or independent game. They are fully engaged in collecting information and storing it for later use. This stage of the game lasts up to about nine months. This is a very self-centered time for the developing baby.
The second stage of play begins to mature in slightly older children, usually when the child is two years old. “Parallel play” is typical for children of this age. This type of game involves two or more children in the same room. They are interested in the same toys and both see the toy as belonging to them. So they can be in the same area and play with similar toys, but they don’t play together. They are playing next to each other simply because they are in the same area.
As children expand their knowledge and play experiences, they move on to “Associative Play”. At this stage, three- and four-year-olds begin to play together, but in a loosely organized way. The more mature child soon emerges as the leader or organizer at this stage of the game. They see themselves as able and capable of telling others what to do, the younger child rarely questions this authority the more mature child has cultivated.
Finally, the child expands into “cooperative play” somewhere between the ages of four or five. Cooperative play takes place between two or more children as they grow and develop socially and emotionally. In cooperative play, children brainstorm about the game or toy they are currently playing with. Rules tend to be very loosely constructed, but children know who is playing what role in their game. The game can last only a few minutes or it can be spread over longer periods of time. They gradually learn to respect the property rights of others. This is a clue that they are gaining social skills; at the same time they begin to understand that they need permission to play with certain materials and certain people. They are also more willing to share their toys for the sake of play. Communication about the game is the critical point of cooperative play.
It is important to note that children differ widely by birth order within their own families. Boys and girls develop in different areas at different stages of their lives, so there is never complete adherence to any one of these exact ages. Not all children go through the stages at the same rate, because children who have more life experiences tend to emerge as leaders or organizers at earlier ages. Confidence, shyness, and other personality traits influence these stages of the game.
