title: Developmental progression in play behavior of children between nine and thirty months. I: Spontaneous play and imitation.
abstract: The developmental progression of play behavior was studied cross-sectionally in 85 children at eight age-levels between nine and 30 months. In a structured play situation, three major play patterns were distinguished: (1) exploratory play (at the end of the first year); (2) functional play (beginning of second year); and (3) representational play (after 15 months). Sequential play first occurred at 21 months. Play behavior with spatial characteristics was also observed: relational and container play between nine and 15 months, and understanding of spatial relationships, stacking and grouping between 18 and 24 months. There was a significant relationship between spontaneous and imitative play behavior; the greatest affect was displayed when the demonstrated behaviors matched the child's developmental level of play.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012737:Sex Factors; D013028:Space Perception