Contrary to Jean Piaget who watched children's play in primarily intellectual or cognitive terms, Parten emphasized the concept that learning to play with is learning how to relate to others. As children grow and develop, play evolves. Certain types of play are related to particular age groups, although all types of play happen at almost any age. Play is how children interact and explore the world, and also several types of play are required to completely engage a child's social, physical, and intellectual development.

1. Unoccupied play
Generally discovered from birth to approximately three months, infants occupied themselves with play. Babies appear to make random movements with no obvious purpose, and might seem to only be observing, but this really is the first form of playing.
2. Solitary play
In the three to 18 months, children will spend a lot of the time playing by themselves. During play, children do not seem to notice other children playing or sitting nearby. They are researching their own world by watching, grabbing and touching objects. But, it's important for all age groups to have time for lonely play.
3. Onlooker play
Onlooker play happens most frequently during the toddler years. A child watches other children play and acquires new language skills through listening and observation, while learning how to interact with others. Although kids may ask questions of other children or make remarks, there's absolutely no attempt to join the drama. This sort of play generally starts during toddler years but may take place at any given age.
4. Parallel play
By age 18 months to two years, children start to play along with other children, often mimicking them, but without any interaction. Parallel play offers young children with opportunities for role-playing. Additionally, it helps kids gain the comprehension of this notion of real estate ownership, including the concept of what is"theirs" and that which goes to"others."
This is also when they start to reveal their need to be together with other children their own age. Parallel play is generally found with toddlers, though it occurs in any age category.
5. Associative play
When kids are about a few decades old, they become more interested in other children than their own toys. Kids start interacting with other children. Associative play is when the kid is considering the folks playing but not in coordinating their activities with those people, or perhaps necessarily organizing their activities at all. During associative drama, children inside the group have similar goals. However, they don't set rules and there's no formal organization.
6. Social/cooperative play
Children around age three are starting to interact with other children. They are interested in the Kids Play around themand in the activities they are doing. By interacting with other children in play preferences, a child learns social rules like give-and-take and collaboration. Children begin to discuss toys and ideas, and follow established guidelines and rules. They start to learn to use moral reasoning to develop a feeling of values. Activities are organized and participants have assigned roles. Group identities might emerge, as with make-believe games.
Past Parten's Stages, play may also be described from these extra categories or kinds of activities kids can engage in through play.
7.
When children run, jump, and play games such as hide-and-seek and tag, they're engaging in physical drama. Physical play offers a chance for children to develop muscle strength, coordination, and exercise and develop their bodies appropriately, while maintaining healthy weight. Kids also learn to take turns and accept winning or losing.
8. Constructive Play
In this kind of play, children construct and create things. Constructive play starts in infancy and becomes more complex as your child grows. Throughout constructive play, kids explore objects, discover patterns, and problem solve, to find exactly what works and what does not. They gain confidence manipulating objects, and exercise creating ideas and working together with numbers and concepts.
9. Expressive Play
Kids learn how to express feelings and emotions during play.
10.
Kids learn how to produce and imagine beyond their entire world during fantasy play. They may assume adult roles and learn to think in abstract ways. Children can re-enact situations, experiment with languages, and learn how to express emotions during fantasy play. They're also able to work out psychological issues by throwing them on a fantasy situation.
11. Competitive Play
Competitive play starts in the late adolescence interval. The drama is organized by grouping goals and established rules. There is at least one leader, and children are in or out of this group.
Kids are moving from a self-centered globe to an understanding of the value of social interactions and rules. Part of this development happens when they know games such as Tag, Follow the Leader, Simon Says, and team sports.
12. Virtual / Digital Play
When children play digital video games or computer-based learning applications, they are engaging in a kind of solitary playwith. There's no social interaction or consequences. If excess, virtual play frequently negatively impacts a child's executive functioning and social skills, including eye contact and attention span.
It's necessary to allow children to take part in all of these styles of play for their general emotional, intellectual, and physical development. Many of these types of play will begin in the house, but some types can only start in pre-schools, rehab centers, or outside in public parks and on the park. Make sure your child's well-being by imagining which types of play have yet to be introduced in your home, and provide them the opportunity to grow by visiting the local park or playground.