Developmental Stages of Play

Play is an important occupation that begins early in life. Characteristics of play include:

Self-chosen or self-directed activity
Intrinsically motivating
Guided by rules
Use of imagination
Occurs in a stress-free state of mind

Through play, children are able to develop motor, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional skills. Children can also learn how to challenge themselves and problem-solve. Types of play vary across the stages of human development.

Age range: Birth- 6 months

Exploratory
- Sensorimotor play (exploration by grasping, shaking, banging, throwing and tasting objects)
- Social
- Attachment and bonding with parents

Baby shaking rattle, a form of sensorimotor play.

Baby playing ‘Peek a boo’ with caregiver.

Age range: 6-12 months

Exploratory- sensorimotor play evolves into functional play
Functional play (using toys for the purpose they were intended for)
Social play with parents

Rolling a ball is an example of functional play.

Age range: 12-18 months

Relational and functional play
Simple pretend play directed toward self (pretend eating, sleeping)
Imitates play behavior when it is modeled

Pretend play

Imitative play

Age range: 18-24 months

Functional play
Performs multiple related actions together

Age range: 24-36 months

Symbolic play
Uses objects for multiple pretend ideas
Uses toys to represent animals or people
Plays house, taking on and assigning specific roles to others
Constructive play
Participates in drawing
Helps put puzzle together
Imitates adults using toys

Pretending to be a pirate and using paper towel roll as a telescope.

Playing house with pretend kitchen set.

Building with Lego blocks is a form of constructive play.

Age range: 3-4 years

Complex imaginary play
Creates script during play in which pretend objects have actions based off of roles in real life
Portray multiple characters with feelings
Constructive play
Creates art product independently
Completes puzzles
Rough and tumble play
Enjoys physical play, jumping, running and using swings and going down slides at playground
Social play
Participates in circle time, games, drawing, and art time in preschool
Enjoys singing and dancing in groups
Plays with other children, shares and talks about play goal

Rough and tumble play

Singing and dancing during circle time

Completing puzzles

Age range: 4-5 years

Games with rules
Begins group games with simple rules
Participates in organized gross motor games such as kickball or “Duck, duck, goose”
Constructive play
Takes pride in finished product
Shows interest in the goal of an activity
Social/dramatic play
Participates in role play with other children
Plays “dress up”
Continues pretend play using scripts with imaginary characters