Knowing the six phases of play in a daycare facility is essential to the growth of the kids you work with. One of the most significant daily activities for a youngster is play. It allows them to exercise the abilities they need to develop and serves as their primary source of knowledge about the world and themselves.

Child psychologists concur that children learn best when they are actively interacting with others and their surroundings. Children can investigate the results of their actions and learn the laws governing the social and physical worlds through play in a safe and consequence-free environment.

The six phases of play and how childcare facilities support them will be discussed in this article. You'll discover the advantages of play, the seven categories of play recognized by the National Institute of Play, and how children move through the phases of play as they mature. To help your childcare facility come up with creative activity ideas, we'll also offer examples of each kind and stage of play.

What are the Six Stages of Play?

Our understanding of play phases stems from the 1932 work "Social Participation among Preschool Children" by Mildred Parten, which is still referenced today. Six categories of social play were identified by Parten as normal for kids at various stages of development. Children can display behaviors from more than one stage at a time, and progress through the stages at varying speeds, and the phases frequently overlap.

Let's examine each play stage in more detail, as well as how it might seem in your daycare facility.

1. Unoccupied Play:

According to Mildred Parten's phases of play, unoccupied play is the initial stage, which normally lasts from birth to about three months of age. Babies seem to be moving and behaving erratically while playing unoccupied, with no apparent purpose or focus. Considering that the youngster isn't actively participating in any one activity, it might not even seem like play to adults.

Unoccupied play behaviors include, for example:

Taking in their environment: Infants may glance about, taking in the sights and noises, without concentrating on any one thing in particular.

Babies may move their hands, feet, arms, and legs as a means of investigating how their bodies move and work. 

2. Solitary Play:

A child who plays alone and has no interest in playing with others is said to be engaging in solitary play. While children of any age can play alone, this stage usually lasts from birth until about two years old. Children are engrossed in their own hobbies and do not actively seek out social interaction while they play alone.

Solitary play examples are as follows:

• Playing alone: A youngster might create their fictional world or plot while playing with blocks, dolls, or other toys.
• Quiet activities: A child can go off and color, draw, or work on puzzles by themselves.

A youngster may investigate objects in their area or crawl about a room as a means of exploring their surroundings. 

3. Onlooker Play:

A child engages in onlooker play when they watch other kids play without actively joining in. This period usually starts at the age of two, though it might change based on how the child is developing. Children who engage in spectator play do not participate in the play themselves; instead, they observe others play and may even remark or ask questions.

• Onlooker play examples include:
• observing other kids construct a block tower without getting involved in the construction process.
• watching someone play tag without participating in the game.
• observing from a distance while other kids engage in play on the playground apparatus. 

4. Parallel Play:

When children play alongside one another without actively engaging or interacting, it's known as parallel play. This period is prevalent in preschool-aged children as well, usually occurring in children around the age of two. Children who play in parallel may use comparable toys or partake in comparable activities, but they play on their own and don't have a shared objective or purpose.

The following are some instances of parallel play:

• Playing with blocks, two kids stand next to each other, but they don't cooperate as they each construct their structure.
• Kids are occupied with toy cars, each one driving its own without engaging with the vehicles of the other kids.

5. Cooperative Play:

Children engage in coordinated, structured play when they are in the cooperative play stage. Children in this stage usually reach four years old and up, and they are defined by their cooperative nature as they work toward a common objective. Children who engage in cooperative play collaborate, negotiate, and communicate with one another. They also frequently obey rules and assume various roles within the play.

Cooperative play examples are as follows:

• Engaging in a game of tag when kids alternate between being "it" and adhering to the rules.
• Together, the kids construct a structure out of blocks, each one adding to the project.
• Set up pretend play settings in which kids dress up as different people and collaborate to tell a story while playing house or school. 

What is the Role of Play in Child Care?

Since play is vital to children's general development and well-being, it plays a significant part in child care. The play has the following important functions in child care:

1. Promotes Physical Development: Play helps children develop gross motor skills (e.g., running, jumping) and fine motor skills (e.g., holding crayons, building blocks), which are crucial for their physical development.
2. Enhances Cognitive Development: Play stimulates children's curiosity, imagination, and problem-solving skills. It helps them learn about cause and effect, spatial relationships, and basic concepts like numbers, colors, and shapes.
3. Supports Social and Emotional Development: Play provides opportunities for children to interact with others, practice social skills (e.g., sharing, taking turns), and develop empathy and emotional intelligence.
4. Encourages Creativity and Imagination: Play allows children to express themselves creatively and use their imagination to create new worlds, stories, and ideas.
5. Builds Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem: Through play, children learn to take risks, make decisions, and overcome challenges, which helps build their confidence and self-esteem.
6. Fosters Language and Communication Skills: Play encourages children to communicate with others, express their thoughts and feelings, and develop their language skills.
7. Provides Stress Relief and Relaxation: Play is a natural way for children to release energy, reduce stress, and relax, promoting overall well-being.

In conclusion, understanding the six stages of play in a daycare facility is crucial for the growth and development of the children under your care. These stages, as outlined by Mildred Parten, provide valuable insights into how children engage with their environment and interact with others as they mature.

From unoccupied play in infancy to cooperative play in preschool-aged children, each stage offers unique opportunities for learning, exploration, and socialization. Childcare facilities play a vital role in supporting and facilitating these stages by providing a safe and stimulating environment where children can engage in various types of play.