FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What type of play occurs when children engage in similar activities side-by-side, but not directly together?

1. Parallel play

2. Onlooker play

3. Symbolic play

4. Cooperative play

The correct answer is: Parallel play

The correct answer is parallel play, which refers to a developmental stage in which children engage in similar activities alongside each other but do not interact directly. This type of play typically occurs in children aged around two to three years old. In parallel play, children may be playing with the same toys or in the same space, but their actions are mostly independent and not coordinated with one another. This stage is crucial for social development as it allows children to explore and express themselves in a social environment while still focused on their individual activities. It lays the groundwork for more interactive forms of play that develop later, such as cooperative play, where children work together towards a common goal. The other options describe different forms of play that do not fit the description provided in the question. Onlooker play involves a child watching others play without participating, symbolic play includes using objects to represent something else (like pretending a stick is a sword), and cooperative play consists of children actively engaging with each other in shared activities and goals. Understanding these types of play helps educators and parents recognize developmental milestones in children's social interactions.