Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

Which type of play involves children engaging in shared activities and taking on roles together?

1. Nonsocial activity

2. Associative play

3. Cooperative play

4. Parallel play

The correct answer is: Cooperative play

Cooperative play is characterized by children coming together to engage in shared activities while taking on specific roles within those activities. This type of play typically involves collaboration and teamwork, where children work towards a common goal or purpose, such as building a fort, playing a game, or creating a story together. During cooperative play, children negotiate roles, share materials, and communicate their ideas, which helps to develop their social skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of social dynamics. In contrast to other types of play, such as nonsocial activity, associative play, and parallel play, cooperative play requires a higher level of interaction and social involvement. Nonsocial activity involves children playing alone without engaging with others. Associative play sees children interacting and sharing materials but not necessarily organizing into roles or a coherent group activity. Meanwhile, parallel play describes children playing alongside each other without directly engaging or collaborating in their activities. Thus, cooperative play stands out as the most interactive and socially complex form of play among these options.