FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What type of play occurs commonly from birth to age 2?

1. Functional play

2. Imaginative play

3. Social play

4. Symbolic play

The correct answer is: Functional play

Functional play is characterized by repetitive motions or activities that involve using objects or materials in simple, practical ways. From birth to age 2, children engage primarily in functional play as they explore their environment and develop motor skills. During this developmental stage, infants and toddlers focus on actions such as pushing, pulling, stacking, and fitting things together, which helps them learn about cause and effect, refine gross and fine motor skills, and understand their surroundings. Imaginative play typically begins to emerge around age 2 as children start to engage in pretend scenarios and role-playing, which is less common in the earlier months. Social play tends to develop further as children grow and interact more with their peers, while symbolic play involves using objects to represent other objects, which tends to become more evident after the age of 2. Therefore, functional play is the primary type of play during the first two years of life, laying the groundwork for later forms of play and social interaction.