Which of the following examples represents parallel play?

SJH Nursing Officer - 2019

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Medium

Appeared in: SJH Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

Parallel play is a developmental stage where children play adjacent to one another but do not directly interact.
This type of play is characteristic of toddlers, typically observed between the ages of 18 months and 2 years.
The correct option describes two children playing beside each other with their own separate toys and no interaction, which is the definition of parallel play.
During parallel play, children are aware of each other and may even mimic actions, but their play remains independent.

Option A: This describes associative play. The key action is 'sharing toys,' which involves social interaction and engagement with others, moving beyond the independent nature of parallel play.
Option C: This is a clear example of cooperative play. Playing a board game like Scrabble involves organization, rules, turn-taking, and a shared goal, which are the hallmarks of cooperative play.
Option D: This describes solitary play. The child is engaged in her own activity and is not playing alongside another child. The presence of the mother provides comfort but does not change the nature of the play itself.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Developmental Milestones: Types of Social Play in Children as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use their knowledge of play stages to assess a child's social development during health check-ups. A significant deviation from the expected type of play for a certain age may warrant further evaluation.
This knowledge is essential for providing anticipatory guidance to parents, helping them understand their child's behavior and choose age-appropriate activities and toys.
In a hospital setting, a nurse can encourage parallel play for toddlers by providing separate toys to children in the same room, promoting comfort without the pressure of interaction.

How to Approach the Question

First, define the key term in the question: 'parallel play'. Recall that this means children playing alongside each other but not interacting.
Next, systematically evaluate each option against this definition.
Analyze Option A: 'share their toys' implies interaction, which is not parallel play. Eliminate this.
Analyze Option B: 'plays with his car beside Mary, who is playing with her doll' shows two children playing separately in the same space. This matches the definition of parallel play.
Analyze Option C: 'plays a game of Scrabble' implies rules and a common goal, which is cooperative play. Eliminate this.
Analyze Option D: 'plays with a handheld game while sitting in her mother's lap' describes playing alone, which is solitary play. Eliminate this.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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