Who defined the stages of play?

The stages of play were defined by Mildred Parten, an American sociologist and researcher who focused on children's play and social interactions. Parten identified a series of stages that typify how children engage in play and interact with one another. Her work categorized play into six distinct types: unoccupied play, solitary play, onlooker play, parallel play, associative play, and cooperative play. This classification helps educators and caregivers understand the developmental progression of social play among children, allowing for better support and facilitation of play experiences in early childhood settings.

Other thinkers such as Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky contributed significantly to understanding child development and learning theories, particularly in cognitive and social development, but did not specifically define the stages of play. Similarly, Maria Montessori developed an educational philosophy centered on the holistic development of children, emphasizing self-directed activity and hands-on learning, but she did not create a framework for stages of play. This makes Parten’s identification of play stages particularly influential for those working in early childhood education.