Lifespan Exam Middle Childhood

According to Goldstein (2012):

Play has been defined as any activity freely chosen, intrinsically motivated, and personally directed. It stands outside "ordinary" life, and is non-serious but at the same time absorbing the player intensely.

• More social. An increase in the social quality of play (play involving other children).

• More imaginative. This type of play peaks at 4-5 years old ("golden age").

• More rule-governed. By middle childhood, play becomes more constructive and rule-governed.

five steps were first described by Mildred Parten in 1932

based on careful, systematic observations in preschools.

Solitary Play

They tend to play by themselves and are not interested in what other kids are doing. An example of this is a child playing with blocks, alone. 

Onlooker Play

OBSERVING. Starting around 2.5 to 3 years old, other children start to become interesting.

Parallel Play

break from the more complex demands of social play

Associative Play (social and sharing parallel play)

swapping materials, conversing, or following each other's lead. However, they are not united by the same goal and are still playing relatively independently.

Cooperative Play

Children often play in pairs or in small groups and divide up the "labor" of an activity in a meaningful way.

Play promotes gross motor development. (run, jump, climb)

Play also promotes fine motor development. (dexterity & coordination w/ sticks, blocks, legos)

Cognitive Development

language and communication skills, representational thinking, problem-solving, planning, and creativity.

a main context for peer interactions through early adolescence and is important for social development

Children practice negotiation, conflict resolution, cooperation, turn-taking, and sharing during play.

Play also promotes emotional development by allowing kids

to work through their understanding of emotions in pretend play. It can aid in children's understanding of their own emotions and the emotions of others, and promotes the development of self-regulation and self-monitoring of emotions.

Moral Development

kindness

honesty

respect

responsibility