FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What stage of play begins typically around age 2, involving the use of objects to represent other items?

1. Solitary play

2. Symbolic play

3. Cooperative play

4. Onlooker play

The correct answer is: Symbolic play

The stage of play that begins around age 2 and involves the use of objects to represent other items is symbolic play. This type of play is crucial for cognitive development as it allows children to experiment with concepts and engage in imaginative scenarios. When children engage in symbolic play, they might use a block to represent a car or a doll to represent a person, showcasing their ability to use imagination and understand that one thing can stand for another. In symbolic play, children also begin to develop language skills as they narrate their play activities and converse with others about their imaginative scenarios. This stage builds a foundation for later learning, as it encourages creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction. Other types of play, like solitary play, involve children playing independently without interaction with others, while cooperative play requires interaction and teamwork with peers. Onlooker play describes when a child observes others playing without joining in. These stages do not typically exhibit the same level of symbolic representation seen in symbolic play.