Which activity is an example of associative play?

Associative play is characterized by children interacting with each other while engaging in similar activities, although they may not be working toward a common goal. This type of play often occurs in informal and cooperative settings where children share materials, communicate, and may even mimic one another.

Playing on playground equipment perfectly exemplifies associative play because it involves children engaging in physical activities together, such as climbing, sliding, or swinging. While they may be participating in the same activity, they are likely to be independently exploring their own ways to interact with the equipment or each other, leading to shared experiences and social interaction without the necessity of teamwork or organization.

In contrast, the other options reflect forms of solitary play or independent activities that do not involve interaction with peers. Building a model alone focuses on individual creativity; coloring in a book by oneself does not engage other children; and solitaire card games are clearly solitary, with no social component. These activities lack the interaction and shared experience that define associative play.