From the 1930s, researcher Mildred Parten defined play six phases which mirror children's social growth. Contrary to Jean Piaget who saw children's drama in primarily intellectual or cognitive developmental terms, Parten emphasized the idea that learning how to play is learning how to interact with other people. As children grow and develop, play evolves. Certain types of play are related to particular age groups, even though all types of play occur at any age. Play is how children interact and explore the world, and several kinds of play are required to completely engage a child's social, physical, and intellectual development.

1. Unoccupied play
Generally found from birth to about three months, infants occupied themselves with play. Babies appear to make arbitrary movements with no obvious purpose, and may seem to only be observing, but this is the first form of enjoying.
2. Solitary play
In the three to 18 months, children will spend a lot of the time playing on their own. During play, kids do not appear to notice other children playing or sitting nearby. They are researching their own planet by viewing, grabbing and touching objects. They can frequently become deeply immersed in the activity,"tuning out" the world around them. However, it is important for all age groups to have some time for lonely playwith.
3. Onlooker play
Onlooker play occurs most often throughout the toddler years. A child watches other children play and acquires new language skills through observation and listening, while learning how to interact with other people. Although kids may ask questions of other children or make comments, there is no effort to combine the drama. This sort of play generally starts during toddler years but may occur at any age.
4. Parallel play
By age 18 months to two years, children start to play alongside other children, often mimicking thembut with no interaction. Parallel play provides young children with opportunities for role-playing. It also helps children gain the understanding of the idea of property ownership, including the idea of what is"theirs" and what goes to"others."
This is also when they start to reveal their need to be together with other kids their own age. Parallel play is generally found with toddlers, though it occurs in any age group.
5. Associative play
When children are about a few decades of age, they become more interested in other children than their own toys. Children start socializing with other kids. Associative play is when the child is considering the folks playing but not in coordinating their activities with those people, or even necessarily organizing their activities in any way. Associative play helps kids further develop the art of sharing, language development, problem-solving abilities and cooperation. During associative drama, kids inside the team have similar objectives. However, they don't set rules and there is not any formal association.
6. Social/cooperative play
Children around the age of three are starting to socialize with other children. They are interested in the kids around themand in the activities they're doing. By interacting with other children in play settings, a child learns social rules such as give-and-take and collaboration. Children begin to share toys and thoughts, and follow established guidelines and rules. They begin to learn how to use moral reasoning to develop a feeling of values. Activities are coordinated and participants have delegated roles. Group identities may emerge, as with make-believe games.
Beyond Parten's Stages, play can also be described by these additional categories or types of activities kids arcade games can engage in through play.
7.
Physical play provides an opportunity for kids to develop muscular strength, coordination, and workout and develop their own bodies appropriately, while keeping healthy weight. Kids also learn to take turns and accept losing or winning.
8. Constructive Play
In this kind of drama, kids build and create things. Constructive play begins in infancy and becomes even more complicated as your child develops. Throughout constructive play, kids explore objects, find patterns, and problem solve, to find what works and what doesn't. They gain confidence manipulating objects, and practice producing ideas and working with numbers and concepts.
9. Expressive Play
Children learn how to express feelings and emotions during play. Art, music, and writing help kids develop creativity and symbolic communication through play.
10.
Children learn to produce and imagine beyond their world through fantasy play. Kids can re-enact situations, experiment with languages, and learn how to communicate feelings during fantasy play. They're also able to work out psychological issues by throwing them on a dream situation.
11. Competitive Play
Aggressive play starts in the late preschool period. The drama is organized by group goals and established rules. There's at least one leader, and kids are definitely in or out of the group.
Kids are moving out of a self-centered world to an understanding of the importance of social interactions and rules.
12. Virtual / Digital Play
When kids play digital video games or even computer-based learning applications, they are engaging in a kind of solitary play. There is no social interaction or effects. If excess, virtual play frequently negatively impacts a child's executive function and social skills, including eye contact and attention span.
It is important to allow children to take part in each these types of play for their general emotional, intellectual, and physical development. A number of these types of play will start in the home, but a few forms can only begin in pre-schools, rehab centers, or out in public parks and on the playground. Make sure your child's well-being by noting which styles of play have to be introduced in your home, and offer them the opportunity to grow by visiting your regional park or playground.