Social Development (Social play)
Theory 3
Theory 5
Examples
Definition
Theory 4
Theory 1
Theory 2
Implications on literature
Jean Piaget 
Sara Smilansky
Mildred Parten
Kenneth H. Rubin
Jerome Singer
Sara Smilansky
Piaget and Smilansky together formed three categories of play:
Apart from her work with Piaget, Smilansky adapted an additional three stages of play:
Parten discovered six types of social play:
Stages of dramatic and imaginative play
Singer found the environment a young child is in can influence how the child develops and shows their imagination.
Social play is demonstrated by peers interactions and participation with one another during play. These exchanges are from useful engagement and when knowledge is shared in situations that allow for role taking and social perspective taking.
Symbolic play
Games with rules
Sensory motor play
(Centre for Learning Innovation, 2006)
Constructive play
Dramatic play
Functional play
Parallel play
Associative play
Onlooker play
Cooperative play
Solitary play
(Centre for Learning Innovation, 2006)
Unoccupied play
Exposure to stressful situations
Development of child's cognitive skills
Young child's family situation
Development of child's physical skills
Development of child's language development
Development of social, emotional and moral skills
The play enviromnemt
Opportunities for different types of play and play experiences
Human environments such as the adults
Opportunity to role play and be part of make believe and dramatic play
(Centre for Learning Innovation, 2006)
(Animal Creativity and Innovation, 2015)
Jerome Singer concludes that Dramatic and Socio dramatic play is how a child's imagination develops.
- Cooperation
- Problem solving
- Perspective taking
- Communication
A vital component is for teachers to have a sound understanding of each learner's social and cultural background.
Learners needs are to be taken into account when the curriculum is constructed.
Instead of directly teaching, teachers should instead facilitate the learning.
Constructive play
Dramatic play
Functional play
(Centre for Learning Innovation, 2006)
(Centre for Learning Innovation, 2006)