Partens Six Stages of Social Play

Stages

Unoccupied behavior Onlooker play Solitary play Parallel play Associative play Cooperative play

Solitary Play

Child is playing independently No attention given to other children or what they might be doing

Onlooker Play

Child is simply observing the playing behavior of other children Mentally involved, not physically Child's attention is focused on the play of peers

Associative Play

Children play together, some interaction Interaction is not organized Children may share toys or talk to each other but play is very individualized Child plays independently from the others and focuses on individual activities

Cooperative Play

Involves organized interaction Children play with each other in order to attain a similar goal, make something together Attention is focused on the group of activity Cooperation is necessary Children clearly feel that they are part of a group

Unoccupied Behavior

Little or no activity Sitting or standing quietly Attention is focused on observing something going on around them

Parallel Play

Playing independently but playing in a similar manner or with similar toys as other children in the immediate vicinity No interaction occurs