Mildred Parten's Stages of Play Flashcards
What did Parten observe to develop the stages of play?
She observed how children interacted whilst playing and doing social activities.
This research led her to develop the 6 stages of play in 1929.
What are the 6 stages of play?
Unoccupied Play.
Solitary Play.
Onlooker Play.
Parallel Play.
Associative Play.
Cooperative Play.
What is unoccupied play?
It is where children are not actively involved in any play activity.
It occurs within the first 3 months of a child’s life.
Encourages children to use their imagination.
Develops their observation and analysis skills.
“A baby watches people walking by through the window”
What is solitary play?
It is when children engage in play independently.
It is common among 3-24 months (2yrs).
Improves concentration skills.
Allows children to develop skills and interests independently.
“A child builds a structure out of blocks independently”
What is onlooker play?
It is when a child observes another child’s play without joining in.
It commonly occurs at 2.5-3.5 years.
Teaches social skills and norms.
Develops empathy.
“A child watches their older brother play video games”
What is parallel play?
It is when children play independently but they’re sitting next to each other.
It is mostly common among 2-4 years.
Expands fine motor and gross motor skills.
Lays groundwork for future cooperative play.
“2 children sit next to each other but they are both building their own block tower”
What is associative play?
It is when children engage with each other in activities without following the rules.
It is common among 3-4 years.
Helps children learn how to share, take turns and cooperate.
Encourages imagination, creativity and curiosity.
“Children play dress-up together and they choose their own outfits”
What is cooperative play?
It is when children work together to complete a task or objective.
It typically begins at 4 years and it continues to develop throughout their childhood.
Teaches collaboration, compromise and conflict resolution.
Boosts communication skills.
“Organised sports where children get to work together as a team”
