Social Levels of Engagement

What are the Social Levels of Play?

 Proximity - Child tolerates other people in their play area, little or

no attention to the activities of other people
 Parallel - Child plays near/next to other people, may attend to the
activities of other people
 Sharing - Childs use common play materials, yet still play primarily
independently. Example: children use one common bin of Leggos
to make their own creations, one bubble container with 2 wands,
one set of markers and children color separate coloring sheets
 Cooperative - Children use common play materials to work on a
common play activity. Example: child use one common bin of
Leggos to make one Leggo creation, children use one box of
marker to create joint collage, children look at a “Big Book”
together (no turn taking in this activity)
 Turn Taking - Children use common play materials to work on a
common play activity, back and forth turn-taking is incorporated.
Example: Throwing a ball into a hoop, one bubble container with
one wand, using one hammer to play “Don’t break the Ice” (these
are not activities that require knowledge of rules—just basic
back and forth of turns)
 Following Rules - Children use common play materials to work on
a common play activity that requires turn taking and the
understanding of rules. Example: card games such as Go Fish or
UNO, sports activities such as kickball
 Reciprocity - Child has mastered all above levels and is responsive
to peers and their perspectives in play situations