At what age do children typically transition into cooperative play?

Children typically transition into cooperative play around the age of 4 years old. At this stage, children begin to engage more with their peers in shared activities that require interaction, collaboration, and communication. They start to understand the concept of teamwork, where they can work together towards a common goal in play scenarios.

This shift from parallel play, where children play beside each other but do not interact significantly, to cooperative play is key for developing social skills. Children learn to negotiate roles, take turns, and solve problems together, which fosters important relationships and a sense of community. As they approach age 5, cooperative play becomes more complex, but the initiation of these skills typically begins by age 4.