Play and Learn Blog Series #1-Expected Play Skills

This week in our play and learn series, we will be talking about expected play skills based on age groups, and what is an appropriate skill level based on each age.

Play is a very important skill for little ones to learn! Not only that, but it is all about having FUN! Any activity, whether it is organized or not that your child finds fun and enjoyable is considered play. Although play may seem like it’s all fun and games, it's so much more than that. While children play they're actually learning quite a lot of important skills. The skills they learn during play will help them in their development throughout their whole life.

First, let's talk about the six stages of play that occur during early childhood:

1. Unoccupied play (Birth - 3 Months) - The first stage consists of a lot of movement by baby such as moving their arms, legs, and other body parts. This allows your baby to learn about and discover their own body.

2. Solitary Play (Birth - 2 years) - The next stage is where a child plays alone.  This is the stage where they will begin to engage with toys and learn to entertain themselves.  They may appear uninterested or unaware of others during this developmental play stage.

3. Spectator/Onlooker Behavior (2 Years) - During this stage children will watch others play, but not directly play with them.

4. Parallel Play (2+ Years) - This stage is when children will play next to each other but, not with each other.  There is often a lack of group involvement during this play stage however, it is very important to their social maturity as they are learning valuable social skills.  

5. Associate Play (3-4 Years) - During this stage kids start to play together, but interactions are minimal.  This stage is similar to the parallel play stage but, now they begin to become involved in what the other child next to them is playing with.  You may notice two children playing next to one another and engaging in social interactions or trading toys during this play stage while still continuing to play with their own toys or activity.   

6. Cooperative Play (4+ Years) - This final stage is when children start to play together and are interested in both the activity and the other children whom they're playing with.

Now we will go over some expected play skills based on age ranges starting at 1-2 years old.

1-2 Years:

1. Has toy preferences

2. Likes repetitive actions like putting actions in and out of boxes.

3. Imitates a pretend play action.

4. Demonstrates play related to their body (e.g. sleeping, eating)

5. Spontaneously performs one action with a doll (e.g. hugs doll)

6. Looks for hidden objects

7. Dances with music

8. Plays with push and pull toys

9. Can build towers out of blocks

10. Throws a ball overhand

11. Puts two- to three-piece puzzles together

12. Scribbles with crayon or pencil and may imitate drawing a straight line or circle

2-3 Years:

1. Treats doll or teddy as if it is alive

2. Begins to use symbols in their play such as a stick becoming a sword

3. Will express emotions with toys

4. Begins to throw, kick and catch balls

5. Can stand momentarily on one foot

6. Climbs on playground structures

7. Turns doorknobs and lids

8. Begins to ride a tricycle

9. Builds towers of 10 blocks by 3 years old

4-5 Years:

1. Begins taking turns and negotiating

2. Plays together with shared aims of play with others

3. Usually prefers playing with other children than playing by themselves

4. Plays imaginatively (e.g. playing in the home-corner, dressing up, cooking)

5. Enjoys playing games with simple rules (e.g. hide and seek)

6. Sings a song

7. Skips and hops on one foot

8. Catches and throws a ball overhand

9. Draws a person with three separate body parts

10. Builds a block tower with 10 blocks

11. Understands the difference between fantasy and reality

5-6 Years:

1. Play themes include themes never personally experienced (e.g. going to space)

2. Plays and negotiates with others during play

3. Play is well organized.

Play is a fun an amazing thing for kiddos!  It incorporates many skills and teaches them things such as: social skills, independence, and the expansion of their vocabulary!  Also, keep in mind each kiddo develops at different rates. So get up, get out there, and P-L-A-Y!  It isn't just fun for your kiddos but, it can be fun for you as well!

You can find many more developmental skills by ages here.

References:

Encourage Play (2019). https://www.encourageplay.com/blog/social-stages-of-play

CHOC Children’s (2018). https://www.choc.org/neuroscience/developmental-services/ages-stages/#1-year