In this blog, we’ll share with you the 10 symbolic play stages your child will show from 9 to 60 months of their life, types of language they should be producing and what this all means!
Stage 1 – 9 to 12 Months
Types of Play:
-Object permanence
-Means-end abilities
-Developing schemas
Language:
-Vocalizations
What does this mean?
Object permanence entails the ability to know an object or person still exists even when they are hidden and you can’t see or hear them, so an example could be the ability to find a toy that is hidden under a scarf. The child knows the toy still exists, even if it is hidden, and can locate it, as well. Means-end ability is when the child physically moves towards an object of desire. Developing schemas means the child will bang, hit, or gum most toys, but does learn to use a few objects appropriately. Vocalizations will be used, but these generally are not real words.
Stage 2 – 13 to 17 Months
Play
-Locates parts of toys that operate the toy (switch, buttons, turn dials, etc.)
Language
-Protoimperatives
-1 word
-Gestures and vocalizations
What does this mean?
If the child is unable to operate the toy, then he or she uses protoimperatives (requesting help) to have an adult operate the toy. This is important because it means the child understands that an adult can be used to act on items and help. Words will begin to appear at this stage but they are unstable and dependent on the context, that is, one wouldn’t necessarily recognize “mama” unless mom is in the room. The child will begin using gestures and vocalizations to perform various actions such as: request, command, call attention, greet or label.
Stage 3 – 17 to 19 Months
Play
-Autosymbolic play
-Object permanence
-Begins to use tools
Language
-True verbal language
-Cannot refer to absent situations
What does this mean?
Auto symbolic play means symbolic play with himself or herself, such as a child pretending to go to sleep, eat “food” from a spoon, or drink “water” from a cup. Object permanence at this stage evolves into a child finding a totally hidden toy, such as a toy being placed in a box, then emptied out under a scarf. Children will also begin to use tools to gain objects. True verbal language appears, however children generally cannot refer to absent situations at this time.
Stage 4 – 19 to 22 Months
Play
-Symbolic play is now acted upon others
Language
-Word combinations
-Possible possession
-Internalized action schemas
What does this mean?
Symbolic play will now change into play that moves to other people or objects, like brushing mom’s hair and a doll’s hair. Word combinations will begin to appear and possession can show up as well (“my”, “mine). Lastly, internalized action schemas include referencing objects and people that aren’t present.
Stage 5 – 24 months
Play
-Sand and water play
-Block building
-Plays house and uses real life or realistic objects
-FORMING pretending, sharing information, and questioning
Language
-Begins to talk about daily experiences
-Short sentences
-Plural participles, plurals, and possessives
What does this mean?
Sand and water play at this stage will also consist of dumping and filling and block building should include both building up and knocking down the blocks. Short sentences should be used to narrate or describe what the child is doing, and present participles, plurals, and possessives will begin to appear. The child will begin forming pretending, sharing information, and questioning but these are not yet perfected.
Stage 6 – 30 Months
Play
-Still uses realistic props
-Parallel play
-Associative play appears
Language
-Brings up less frequent experiences
-Asking WH- questions
What does this mean?
Parallel play is present when children may be playing next to each other but not necessarily interacting together, associate play is present when children are playing the same game but not really interacting or working together. Less frequent experiences your child could be talking about could be when the child got sick and went to the doctor, versus going to school every day. At this stage, mostly why question will be asked.
Stage 7 – 36 Months
Play
-Sequence schemas
-Still using realistic props
-Associative play but not yet full cooperative play
-Uses compensatory play combinations
Language
-Uses past tense
What does this mean?
Sequence schemas are when a child, for example, chooses to mix cake, then bake cake, then wash dishes, this isn’t planned, but evolves as they go through the actions. Compensatory play strategies include a child choosing to reenact past events, but add a new outcome, probably one he/she would have liked better.
Stage 8 – 36 to 42 Months
Play
-Sequence schemas involve into using less realistic props
-Theory of mind begins developing
Language
-Metalinguistic abilities begin to show
What does this mean?
Using less realistic props could involve using a row of chairs to depict a train. Theory of mind is the child’s ability to take on someone else’s perspective in play, and metalinguistic abilities shown at this stage are the ability to think and comment about play.
Stage 9 – 48 Months
Play
-3 dimensional block structures begin
-Pretend play happens with the 3 dimensional structures
-Problem solve and hypothesize past events using “what if”
Language
-Modals and conjunctions appear
What does this mean?
Children in this stage will begin grasping ideas in play like could, would, what if. Modals are words like can, may, might, could, would, and will. Conjunctions are words like and, but, if, so, because. These will begin to appear but that doesn’t mean the child knows exactly what these concepts mean–this won’t happen until elementary school years.
Stage 10 – 60 Months
Play
-Can organize what he/she needs for future events
-Can coordinate more than 1 event at a time
-Realistic props aren’t necessary
-Full cooperative play
Language
-NEED language for this stage
-Uses concepts such as first, then, when, while, next, before, after
What does this mean?
A child at this stage will organize both people and objects, can play the role of mommy/daddy, and tell other children what to do while playing house. Full cooperative play means children are playing the same game, in the same space, with the same goal.
Source: 10 symbolic play stages (Westby, 1980)