Definitions of
Children's Play
SOCIAL
PLAY
Solitary
play involves children playing
alone with toys different from those used
by others; although child may be within speaking distance,
there is no attempt at verbal communication within the peer
group. Child is centered on own activity.
Parallel play involves children playing
independently but among others; children play with toys
that are similar to those of others; plays
beside rather than with other children.
Group play involves two kinds of
interactions - ASSOCIATIVE PLAY involves children playing
with others; borrowing, following each other with
playthings; engaging in similar if not
identical play. There is no division of labor and no
organization of activity. COOPERATIVE PLAY involves
organized efforts for
making some material product...striving to attain some
goal, dramatizing situations of adult or group life, or
playing formal games. There is a division of labor, a sense
of belonging and an organization in which the efforts of
one are supplemented by those of another.
COGNITIVE
PLAY
Functional play involves simple
muscular activities and repetitive muscular movement with
or without objects...children repeat and initiate actions.
Constructive play involves learning about a
specific use for play materials, manipulation of objects to
construct something or create something.
Dramatic play involves children taking on
roles; pretending to be someone else, imitating another
person in actions and speech with the aid of real or
imagined objects.
Games with rules involve children accepting
prearranged rules and adjusting to them; controlling
actions and reactions within time limits.
OTHER PLAY CATEGORIES
Unoccupied behavior is when the
child is not playing in the usual sense but watching
activities of momentary interest; plays with own body;
follows teacher or merely glances around the room.
Onlooker play is the child watching the
others play and talks to, questions, and offers suggestions
to the children playing but does not enter into the
activity.
Rough and tumble play is children in a
group of two or more running and chasing each other or
engaging in mock wrestling.
Reading ...the child is being read to by an
adult or exploring books on their own.