The Six Stages of Play and How to Help your Child during the Stages
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1.     Unoccupied Play (Birth-3 months)

Unoccupied play involves babies exploring their bodies and the world around them. This includes sensory exploration and activities that have no focus or narrative attached.
This stage is characterised by a lack of social interaction and a lack of sustained focus. There are no clear story lines during play.
To help your child during this stage provide a sensory stimulating environment with different objects and environments which stimulate senses including sight, sound and touch. Encourage the development of motor skills by providing support as new motor skills begin to emerge.
 
​💡 How to Support This Stage:

• Provide high-contrast toys to stimulate visual tracking.
• Offer sensory-rich environments with different textures, sounds, and colors.
• Encourage tummy time to support early motor development.

2.     Solitary Play (0- 2 years)

Solitary play involves children playing alone, focused on their own activities and not interacting or involving others.
This stage is characterised by a focus and exploration of toys, manipulation of objects, unstructured play without clear goals. Play narratives start to emerge and basic motor skills develop. 
To help your child during this stage allow the child to explore more independently, while monitoring them from nearby. Offer a variety of developmentally appropriate toys and activities to explore on their own, including activities which promote the development of fine and gross motor skills such as blocks and puzzles.

💡 How to Support This Stage:

• Provide safe, age-appropriate toys such as blocks, stacking cups, and simple puzzles.
• Offer sensory bins and cause-and-effect toys to encourage exploration.
• Allow independent play but remain nearby for reassurance.

 
3.     Onlooker Play (2 years)

Onlooker play involves children observing and showing interest in other children playing. The child does not engage in the play but may mimic behaviours of the children engaged in play.
This stage is characterised by showing interest in play but not engaging for reasons which may include fear, disinterest, or hesitation.
To help your child during this stage encourage your child to observe other children playing and talk with them about what the children are doing to communicate during the play. Begin to model play behaviours with your child and give them opportunities to join in. 

💡 How to Support This Stage:

• Encourage social observation by discussing what other children are doing.
• Model play behaviors by demonstrating how to interact with toys.
• Offer open-ended questions like, “What do you think they’re building?”

4.     Parallel Play (2- 3 years)

Parallel play involves children playing side by side, in the same room but not together. The play they are performing can be similar, using the same type of toys and engaging in similar activities. The children increase awareness of other children and start to show an understanding of how to play.
This stage is characterised by playing in the same room and with the same resources, but not together. Independent play with the child’s own goals, which involves observing and mimicking other children’s behaviours. Communication with other children is minimal during this stage.
To help your child during this stage, model sharing behaviours and provide opportunities to play close to other children. Provide activities which do not require direct interaction. 

💡 How to Support This Stage:

• Provide group play opportunities with similar toys (e.g., building blocks, art supplies).
• Encourage turn-taking and introduce simple sharing concepts.
• Narrate what your child and their peers are doing to build awareness of social cues.

5.     Associate Play (3-4 years)

Associate play involves children beginning to engage with each other during play. The social involvement involves communicating and sharing without the play being structured and organized.
This stage is characterised by the sharing of resources, emerging language skills including asking questions to other children. Children will continue to mimic, observe play independently with individual goals, while also beginning to engage with other children. 

💡 How to Support This Stage:

• Arrange small group activities like pretend play or collaborative art projects.
• Model and encourage social language (e.g., “Can I have a turn?”).
• Foster cooperation by setting up activities that require teamwork, like building a tower together.

To help your child during this stage help create play scenarios where cooperation can be encouraged such as building something together. Provide opportunities for both structured goal driven play and free play. Model how to communicate during play and play behaviours including sharing and taking turns.
 
6.     Cooperative Play (4+ Years)
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Cooperative play involves children playing in a more organized way, with joint goals and roles. They play together to build stories and develop rules, communicating and cooperating.
This stage is characterised by children working together towards a shared goal, using shared resources to play, following shared rules and assigning roles during play. Learning to cooperate including compromising for a shared goal.
To help your child during this stage of play provide opportunities for play which requires teamwork, collaboration and communication. Model and encourage joint problem solving and compromise for a share goal. Encourage the use and assignment of different roles during play.  

💡 How to Support This Stage:

• Provide activities that require collaboration, such as board games or role-playing scenarios.
• Encourage problem-solving by creating challenges (e.g., “Let’s build the tallest tower together!”).
• Teach conflict resolution by modelling turn-taking, compromise, and fair play.​

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Belong Health's Resource Hub
To further support your child's development, visit our Resource Hub for additional activities, tips, and tools tailored for various needs and diagnoses.

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Explore Home Therapy Packs
Our guides provide practical strategies to support children facing these challenges. To further enhance your approach, consider our Home Therapy Packs, designed to engage children and improve focus at home.
Explore Home Therapy Packs

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