Stage 2: Solitary Play

Solitary play is one of the first play stages. Playing alone is a natural step in the development of children’s play behaviour for a 0-2 year old.

As children learn through play and in this stage they have not yet learnt enough from relationships to be able to play together with others.

Playing alone gives children the time they need to think, explore and create. When a child plays alone, they learn to concentrate, think for themselves, comes up with creative ideas, and regulate emotions. All of these are important things for a child to learn. Playing independently is important and normal.

Babies and toddlers (birth to around two) are in this stage. This age are very busy exploring and discovering their new world. Every new object or situation that is introduced is a new learning experience.

• Children are given the opportunity to have the freedom to use their imagination
• They learn and practice physical and mental skills
• A child is able to be fully engaged in an activity therefore they experience of ‘flow’
• They are able to explore, create, and learn how things work
• It enables them to be able to make their own rules for play
• Means a child does not have to meet anyone else’s expectations

Solitary play should not be used to identify unsociable children. In no way are the children being ‘unsociable’ but rather they are learning through play.

Even though ‘social play’ ( playing together) develops at around  the age of 3 or 4 it is important to note that solitary play does not disappear.

• Solitary active play:  Solitary active play also includes playing make-believe while playing alone, or with an imaginary companion. It is a bridge between solitary play and true social play. This includes repeated simple activities with or without toys or other objects, for example, banging two wooden blocks together,  or filling a bucket with sand and pouring it out.
• Solitary imaginative play’: This can strengthen healthy development as a child alone in his or her room using an action in an imaginary story displays abstract thinking, language and creativity.

Solitary play’ (playing alone) is followed by ‘onlooker play’ – watching and observing others play – at around two years of age.