A nurse is discussing the concept of parallel play with parents of toddlers. Which statement should the nurse include to describe this type of play?

Question

A nurse is discussing the concept of parallel play with parents of toddlers.  Which statement should the nurse include to describe this type of play?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Play is an important developmental task of childhood and reflects the child's physical, social, and emotional health. Parallel play is independent play near other children with minimal group interaction and is typical of toddlers (age 12-36 months) (Option A). Toddlers engaging in parallel play may share toys and verbalize thoughts, but they primarily focus on doing their own activities rather than directly interacting with others in organized play. (Option B) Toddlers engaging in parallel play may play with similar toys but are not directly influenced by the choices of other children. Preschoolers (age 3-5 years) are more likely to interact with each other and borrow each other's toys in associative play. (Option C) During solitary play, children play alone while focusing on their own activities but also enjoy interactions with familiar people (eg, parents) or objects (eg, favorite toy). This type of play is typical of infants (age <12 months). (Option D) During cooperative play, one or two children direct the activity and assign roles while others follow. This type of play is typical of school-age children (age 6-12 years) and may involve a formal game or task (eg, building a castle from blocks). Educational objective: Toddlers typically engage in parallel play, which is characterized by independent play alongside other children. Minimal interaction is observed between children during parallel play because toddlers focus on their own activities rather than interact with others in organized play.

A Nurse Is Discussing the Concept of Parallel Play with Parents