Stages in social play

0-2yrs solitary
Play alone-explore material and toys by themselves
Need adults there for reassurance
Don’t pay attention to other children

2-3yrs onlooker/parallel
Notice other toddlers
Play alongside each other
Games and ideas are separate
Watch others play but will not join in

3-4yrs associative
Play alongside and copy other children
E.g. a child in a play area might start to cook and the child will join in

4+yrs cooperative
They begin to cooperate as they play
They talk, spend time planning and agreeing with each other about what they are going to do.
E.g. playing with a train set they may talk about how to set up the train set.