When setting up play experiences for children educators must make sure that the children have lots of choices to play alone (individual play), next to a friend but still working on their own (parallel play) or to play together (collaborative play).
Great learning happens in small groups instead of big groups, so it is important when setting up tables and chairs or areas for activities that those areas have room for 4 - 6 children to work together. For example on a clay or play doh table, you might set out 6 placemats with tools and loose parts like gems or acorns in the middle of the table. This invites 6 children to come to play.
An example of an individual play experience might be a cubby or painting on an easel.
An example of parallel play might be sitting next to each other at the play doh or kinetic sand table but making your own creation.
An example of collaborative play might be to play a game of doctors or building a castle out of blocks or a cubby together where everyone contributes to the building.
TASK: What other examples of individual, parallel or collaborative play can you think of?
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