Is play usually cooperative among infants and toddlers?

The nature of play among infants and toddlers is primarily characterized as solitary or parallel rather than cooperative. During early development stages, infants engage in solitary play, focusing on their own activities and explorations. As they grow into toddlers, their play often shifts to parallel play, where children play alongside each other but do not necessarily interact directly or engage in cooperative activities. This means they might be engaged with similar toys or activities in a shared space, but they are not collaborating or forming teams in their play.

Emphasizing this phase of development helps caregivers and educators understand that while children at this age are beginning to socialize, their interactions during play do not typically involve teamwork or structured collaboration, which are more characteristic of older children's play patterns. Thus, understanding this aspect of play is essential for fostering appropriate developmental activities that align with the children’s current capabilities.