FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

During which type of play might children mimic each other yet still play separately?

1. Associative play

2. Parallel play

3. Cooperative play

4. Symbolic play

The correct answer is: Parallel play

The correct answer is that children engage in parallel play during this type of play. In parallel play, children play side by side but do not directly interact with each other. They may engage in similar activities or use similar toys, which allows for a degree of mimicry, but they maintain their own individual play experiences. This kind of play can be observed in young children, especially those around the ages of 2 to 3 years old, as they begin to explore social interactions but still primarily focus on their own play agendas. In contrast, associative play involves more interaction among children, where they start to share toys or materials and engage in communication about their activities, even though they may not work together towards a common goal. Cooperative play is more advanced; it involves children working together towards a shared objective, requiring coordination and collaboration. Symbolic play involves using objects to represent other things, showcasing imaginative thinking but not necessarily focused on whether the play is done in parallel or with others.