The 6 Stages of Play: What Every Parent Should Know About How Kids Learn

Play is more than just “fun.”

From quiet observation to elaborate make-believe games, play is how children learn about the world —how they figure out how things work, connect with other people, and express their creativity. It’s the foundation for skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.

When a child plays, they’re developing:

• Confidence – mastering new skills boosts self-esteem.

• Social skills – learning how to interact with others, share, and cooperate.

• Problem-solving abilities – figuring out challenges and testing solutions.

• Creativity – inventing games, stories, and worlds of their own.

Developmental researcher Mildred Parten identified six distinct stages of play in the 1930s. Psychologist Grace J. Craig later reinforced these stages in modern child development research.

Understanding these stages can help you give your child the right kind of support—without rushing them or skipping essential experiences. Let’s walk through each stage, what it looks like, and how you can help your child make the most of it.

Age: Birth–3 months

At this stage, it might not even look like play. Your baby is simply taking in the world—absorbing sights, sounds, and sensations. But these tiny moments are powerful building blocks for brain development.

You might notice:

• Staring at light or movement (like sunlight on the wall or a ceiling fan)

• Random kicking and waving of arms and legs

• Eyes following your face or voice

How to support:

• Black-and-white cards for early visual stimulation

• Baby-safe mirrors for self-recognition

• Sensory playmats for tummy time exploration

• Organic teething toys for infants, once your baby starts mouthing objects

💡 Tip: Keep play sessions short. Infants tire quickly and need plenty of rest between activities. Even a few minutes of interaction can be enough stimulation.

Age: 3 months–2 years

This is the “me time” stage of childhood. Your little one begins to explore independently, focusing on objects, textures, and their own movements. It’s also when fine and gross motor skills start developing rapidly.

Examples of solitary play:

• Shaking a rattle repeatedly

• Stacking blocks over and over

• Turning the pages of a chunky board book

• Exploring the sounds of a teether toy or crinkly fabric

Best toys for solitary play:

• Stacking cups or wooden blocks for motor skill practice

• Play silks for sensory movement

• Chunky puzzles (great for hand-eye coordination)

• Shape sorters for problem-solving

💡 Tip: Let your child experiment without correcting them. Trial and error is how they learn best. If they stack blocks upside down or put puzzle pieces in “wrong,” they’re still building important skills.

Age: 2–3 years

Children in this stage are observers. They watch others—whether it’s siblings, friends, or even you—and learn by seeing how play works. They may not join in right away, but their minds are busy collecting social and problem-solving strategies.

You might see:

• Standing near older kids at the park, watching their games

• Observing you “cook” in a pretend play kitchen set

• Listening closely while siblings tell stories or role-play

How to encourage onlooker play:

• Provide pretend play sets (like tea sets, tool benches, or wooden play kitchens)

• Attend storytime at the library for group observation

• Arrange playdates with mixed-age groups so younger kids can watch older ones in action

💡 Tip: Observation isn’t shyness—it’s an important step in social learning.

Age: 2.5–3.5 years

Here, children play side-by-side but not with each other. This stage helps them get comfortable being near peers while still focusing on their own activities.

Examples:

• Two kids building with magnetic tiles, but each working on their own tower

• Sitting at the same table, drawing separate pictures

• Digging in the sandbox, but on opposite sides

Best choices for parallel play:

• Duplicate sets of blocks or magnetic tiles

• Separate art supplies so each child has their own tools

• Sensory bins for independent digging and exploration

💡 Tip: Don’t push them to interact yet. Comfort with proximity is an essential foundation for teamwork later on.

Age: 3–4 years

This is when the magic of shared play begins. Kids start to interact and share materials, but there are no strict rules or organized goals yet. The focus is on enjoying the activity together.

You’ll see:

• Pretend cooking side-by-side in a wooden play kitchen without assigned roles

• Sharing toy figurines while narrating what the characters are doing

• Building in the same space, but not working on the same structure

Great toys for associative play:

• Play food sets and play kitchen accessories

• Animal figurines for storytelling

• Dress-up clothes for open-ended role play

💡 Tip: Avoid enforcing too many rules—loose collaboration helps creativity flourish.

Age: 4–5+ years

Now comes full-fledged teamwork. Children create storylines, assign roles, and work toward shared goals. This stage is a huge leap for social, emotional, and problem-solving skills.

Looks like:

• Playing “school” with assigned teacher and student roles

• Putting on a puppet show together

• Building a fort and deciding who will be the “guard” and who will be “inside”

Perfect toys for cooperative play:

• Dollhouses with accessories

• Puppet theaters for storytelling

• Large building sets for group construction projects

• Montessori shelves to store and organize materials so children can access what they need for their group projects

💡 Tip: Cooperative play sets the stage for success in school, sports, and lifelong friendships.

Each stage of play:

• Builds on the one before – skipping ahead can leave gaps in development.

• Strengthens social, emotional, and cognitive skills – from problem-solving to empathy.

• Prepares your child for the next level – socially, academically, and creatively.

💬Don’t rush it. Children benefit most when they fully explore each stage at their own pace.

You don’t have to lead the play—you just need to make space for it. That means:

• Offering safe, open-ended toys that grow with your child (like building sets, pretend play kitchens, puzzles for 3-year-olds, and sensory play materials)

• Allowing plenty of unstructured time each day

• Stepping back and observing without constant direction

Sometimes, the best gift you can give is simply to watch and appreciate the magic unfolding.

Play is the language of childhood. From a newborn’s tiny movements to a preschooler’s elaborate storylines, each stage is valuable in shaping who your child becomes.

By understanding the six stages of play —and offering the right toys—you’re giving your child the tools to grow into a confident, curious, and capable learner.

👉 Ready to support your child’s play journey? Explore our Open-Ended Play Collection for toys that adapt to every stage—whether your child is shaking a rattle, building with blocks, or cooking up an imaginary feast in their pretend play kitchen.