Types of play in Psychology
These are the categories and the types of play:
- Unoccupied play
The child is relatively stationary and appears to be performing random movements with no apparent purposes.
- Solitary play
The child is completely engrossed in playing and does not seem to notice other children, most of the children between 2-3 years old.
3. Onlooker play
Child takes an interest in other children’s play but does not join in. May ask questions, or just talk to other children, but the main focus is simply to watch.
- Parallel play
The child mimics other children’s play but doesn’t actively engage with them. Example, use the same toy.
- Associative play
Now the children are more interested in each other than the toys. They are involved in strong interaction with other children while they play.
- Cooperative play
Some organization enters children’s play. Example, the playing has some goal and the child adopts this from the roles in the group.
- Functional
Functional play also referred to as exercise play is described as the first stage of play. It is where children acquire motor skills through repeated actions.
- Construction Play
Construction play refers to purposeful play that results in some form of creation.
- Symbolic Play
Symbolic play is most associated with make believe and representation of absent objects, such as drinking from an empty box to symbolize drinking liquid from a cup
- Socio-dramatic Play
Socio-dramatic play is a more developed form of symbolic/dramatic play in which children engage in role-playing with other children through imitation and make-believe
- Games with Rules
Games with rules represent the highest form of cognitive development with regard to play.
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