What type of play involves two or more children engaging in the same activity without direct interaction?

The correct answer is parallel play, which describes a scenario where two or more children are involved in the same activity or play within proximity, but they do so independently and without direct interaction with each other. This type of play is often seen in younger children who may be aware of each other’s actions but do not yet have the social skills to engage directly together. For instance, children may be playing with blocks side by side, building their own structures, but not collaborating or communicating about their tasks.

In contrast, cooperative play involves children working together towards a common goal, which requires a higher level of social interaction and communication. Associative play represents a stage where children start to interact with one another, sharing materials or ideas, but aren't necessarily working towards a shared end goal. Solitary play is characterized by children playing alone, which does not involve other children at all. Understanding these distinct types of play helps to recognize the developmental stages of social interaction among children.