What type of play is most typical for 2 and 3 year olds?
Keep reading to learn about the 6 stages of play and the different types of play that help develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills! Show
Table of Contents 6 Stages of PlayLike everything else in life, play comes in different stages. How your child plays will change, depending upon their age. Unoccupied Play (Birth-3 Months)This type of play is what children do from the ages of birth to three months. It may not look like play to the outside observer. It may look like movements that serve no purpose, but those movements are considered a type of play and they will help your child with their later types of play (1). This kind of play can be as simple as kicking their legs or studying their feet. Solitary Play (Birth-2 Years)Solitary play happens from birth to two years old — it is really popular with toddlers. As the name implies, solitary play is something a child does by itself. It’s a great method of play for shy kids and it’s perfect for their still undeveloped communication ability. This type of play is crucial because it helps your child learn how to entertain itself, which is an important skill to learn. You don’t want to have a child that needs to be constantly entertained by things or other people — you want them to be able to do that for themselves. Spectator/Onlooker Behavior (2 Years)This kind of play begins around the age of 2, although it can be done long after that too. In this type of play, a child watches other children play without participating. It’s a way of observing what happens and for them to learn by watching the others. Sometimes the kids might ask questions and they’ll definitely be interested in what’s happening, but they won’t take any initiative to join the fun. Parents can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable when they see this, thinking there is something wrong with their child, but it’s a completely normal phase of development. Children who aren’t social enough yet to join in with the fun with other kids can benefit from onlooker play. It can give them the confidence to take their play to the next level with other kids involved. Parallel Play (2+ Years)Parallel play typically begins somewhere around the age of two years and can last much longer. It’s when two or more children are in the same room playing in close proximity, but not necessarily with each other. Rather, it’s more of an imitation — while they are playing separately they do notice each other and might even mirror the other’s actions. It gives children a good way to learn about manners, taking turns, and being a good playmate. And it shows that a child is starting to want to hang out with other children. Associate Play (3-4 Years)From three to four years old, associate play is another key type of play children will experience. In some ways, this type of play is similar to parallel play because children will also be playing separately. What’s different is that while they are playing separately, they are involved with each other too, working toward a common goal. They’ll be working on their own tasks while they talk and socialize with one another. It’s one of the ways that children first learn how to form and keep friendships. Cooperative Play (4+ Years)Cooperative play is what kids who are generally four or more years old will engage in. This is kind of a mash-up of all the stages. It’s where everything they’ve learned from all the other stages of play come together. This is when they start to share toys and come up with rules for their organized play. You’ll see your child start to make real friends and they’ll have favorite playmates as well in preschool and kindergarten. Sensory PlayWith this type of play, children utilize their five senses to learn about the world and whatever they are doing at the moment. Sensory play is instinctive for children, even babies. When you see a baby putting their fingers in their mouth or picking up something to look at it and feel the texture, that’s sensory play. This type of play involves any activity that involves sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste. Sensory play encourages investigation and exploration, allowing children to come up with their own conclusions about the world around them. Tips for Sensory PlayWhen your child is exploring sensory play, there are some things you need to know.
Pretend/Dramatic PlayKids of all ages love to pretend at school, at home, and pretty much anywhere else they go. Pretend play has two main components: fantasy play and sociodramatic play. With fantasy play, your child won’t stay in character, and they’ll keep updating you about what kind of pretense they’re keeping up. It often begins around age 2 and seems to reach its peak when a child is in preschool. With sociodramatic play, a child is fully invested in the role it is playing. If your daughter, for instance, is pretending she’s a princess, she’s going to give it her all. For this type, your child will often base their storylines from things they’ve seen on their favorite tv shows or fairy tales. Pretend play helps develop a child’s social skills, emotional maturity, and cognitive development. Pretend Play Ideas & Activities
Constructive PlayConstructive play is when kids try to use materials and toys around them to build and create things. This kind of play really seems to kick in around the age of 2 as your child’s attention span becomes longer. They have enough concentration to play with one type of toy longer than they ever have. Constructive play can help develop abstract thinking skills, fine motor skills, perseverance, and vision (3). Constuctive Play Ideas & ActivitiesThere are a lot of ways for your child to participate in constructive play, including:
Outdoor/Physical PlayPhysical play is an important aspect of your kid’s childhood and development. Physical play is what your child does as they get up and move around while playing a game, learning a new skill, or exploring. Physical play can begin at any age. Even babies can do a mild form of physical play — tummy time, which helps strengthen their muscles. After that, babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children all can participate in and benefit from physical play. Physical Ideas & Activities
Creative PlayWith creative play, your child does anything that sparks their imagination. This kind of play should be fun. This kind of play is a favorite of toddlers and preschool-aged children. Which type of play is most common for 3 year olds?Associate Play (3-4 Years)
A child might be doing an activity related to the kids around him, but might not actually be interacting with another child. For example, kids might all be playing on the same piece of playground equipment but all doing different things like climbing, swinging, etc.
What can a 2 3 year old play with?10 fun games to play with toddlers. Simon Says. A game that you can play one on one or with a group of kids, Simon Says is a classic that teaches kids how to follow instructions. ... . Hot and cold. See his favourite stuffy over there? ... . One for you, one for me. ... . Hokey-Pokey. ... . Parachute. ... . Scavenger hunt. ... . Hide-and-seek. ... . Obstacle course.. Which type of play is most common for toddlers?However, it is important for all age groups to have some time for alone play. Onlooker play happens most frequently during the toddler years. A child watches other children play and acquires new language skills through observation and listening, while learning how to relate to others.
What does a 3 year old like to play with?Simple toys. Lego blocks. I regularly rotate toys, and each time I bring the box of building blocks out, the kids go crazy for it. ... . Toy cars and trains. Another bin I also rotate are toy cars and trains. ... . Bubbles. ... . Puzzles. ... . Board games. ... . Pretend clothes.. |