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:

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 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 with whom they are playing.

Expected Play Skills: 1-2 Years Old:

1. Has toy preferences

2. Likes repetitive actions like putting items 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

Expected Play Skills: 2-3 Years Old:

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

Expected Play Skills: 4-5 Years Old:

1. Begins taking turns and negotiating

2. Plays together 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

Expected Play Skills: 5-6 Years Old:

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 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.