What describes the play behavior of children who are next to each other but not actively interacting?

Parallel play is characterized by children playing alongside each other while engaging in their own independent activities without direct interaction. This type of play typically occurs when children are in close proximity but are focused on their individual experiences, such as using toys or games specific to their preferences.

In this stage of development, children may be aware of one another, but their engagement is primarily solitary, illustrating their own ideas and processes. Parallel play is common among younger preschool-age children and serves as an essential step in their social development, as it lays the groundwork for later forms of social play where interactions become more frequent and complex.

The other play types, while also significant at different developmental stages, do not capture this specific behavior of children playing side-by-side without engaging with one another. Associative play involves some interaction, while solitary play is focused on an individual child not engaging with others at all. Onlooker play refers to a child observing others play without participating. Therefore, the defining characteristic of parallel play is that the children are present together in a shared space but are occupied with their own activities.