Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
4-25-2025
Keywords
active, ACEI, Association of Childhood Education International, behavioral, characteristics, children, cognitive functioning, definition, degree, exploratory, exploratory play, intrinsically motivated, intrinsically motivated play, Isenberg, level, non-literal, non-literal play, non-play behaviors, Parten, Piaget, play, pleasurable, position statement, process oriented, psychology, Quisenberry, rule-governed, self-initiated, social participation, Vygotsky
Disciplines
Developmental Psychology
Abstract
Rather than using a universally agreed upon definition of play, the following list of characteristics, first presented in the widely cited Association of Childhood Education International position statement on play, "Play: A Necessity for All Children" (ACEI/Isenberg & Quisenberry, 1988), is used to distinguish play from non-play behaviors: intrinsically motivated and self-initiated; process oriented; non-literal and pleasurable; exploratory and active; and rule-governed. Types of play have been categorized according to both the degree of social participation (Parten, 1932) and the level of cognitive functioning (Piaget, 1962; Vygotsky, 1967).
Recommended Citation
McMahon Giles, Rebecca, "Types of Play" (2025). Essays in Developmental Psychology. 206.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/edp/206