Play Skills Checklist For Toddlers And Preschoolers
Play time is one of our favorite times of day! The benefits of play are numerous. Through play, your child will learn social skills, independence and expand their vocabulary. Did you know that when a preschooler is playing with blocks, they are engaged in at least one math-building activity, such as comparing sizes or counting. Free-play teaches teamwork and creativity. Play is so important to children’s development that the United Nations recognizes it as a fundamental human right. Play increases social reciprocity, which in younger learners can look like joint attention on the same game or maybe smiling and acknowledging peers! Children learn to regulate emotions and understand others perspectives during social play. Research shows that play increases cognitive skills in children like self-regulation, recall, and problem solving.
Often, children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders don’t “pick up” on these play skills naturally, and may need to be taught these skills more directly.
Expected Play Skills Based On 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. When children play, they're actually learning a lot of important skills. The skills they learn during play will help them in their development throughout their entire life.
The Six Stages Of Play That Occur During Early Childhood:
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.
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.
Spectator/Onlooker Behavior (2 Years) - During this stage children will watch others play, but not directly play with them.
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.
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 while still continuing to play with their own toys or activity.
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 with whom they are playing.
Expected Play Skills: 1-2 Years Old:
Has toy preferences
Likes repetitive actions like putting items in and out of boxes.
Imitates a pretend play action.
Demonstrates play related to their body (e.g. sleeping, eating)
Spontaneously performs one action with a doll (e.g. hugs doll)
Looks for hidden objects
Dances with music
Plays with push and pull toys
Can build towers out of blocks
Throws a ball overhand
Puts two- to three-piece puzzles together
Scribbles with crayon or pencil and may imitate drawing a straight line or circle
Expected Play Skills: 2-3 Years Old:
Treats doll or teddy as if it is alive
Begins to use symbols in their play such as a stick becoming a sword
Will express emotions with toys
Begins to throw, kick and catch balls
Can stand momentarily on one foot
Climbs on playground structures
Turns doorknobs and lids
Begins to ride a tricycle
Builds towers of 10 blocks by 3 years old
Expected Play Skills: 4-5 Years Old:
Begins taking turns and negotiating
Plays together with others
Usually prefers playing with other children than playing by themselves
Plays imaginatively (e.g. playing in the home-corner, dressing up, cooking)
Enjoys playing games with simple rules (e.g. hide and seek)
Sings a song
Skips and hops on one foot
Catches and throws a ball overhand
Draws a person with three separate body parts
Builds a block tower with 10 blocks
Understands the difference between fantasy and reality
Expected Play Skills: 5-6 Years Old:
Play themes include themes never personally experienced (e.g. going to space)
Plays and negotiates with others during play
Play is well organized
Play is a fun an amazing thing for kids! It incorporates many skills and teaches them new things, such as social skills, independence, and the expansion of their vocabulary! Also, keep in mind each child develops at different rates. So get up, get out there, and P-L-A-Y! It isn't just fun for your kids, 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
Brooke Junior, M. Ed., BCBA
Brooke is an expert teacher and behavior analyst. She specializes in verbal behavior and early intervention, and is passionate about helping young children learn to be as independent as possible and communicate effectively.