Types of Play for Child Development

This assignment, titled 'Types of Play', delves into the different categories of play that contribute to a child's development. It outlines six key types: Discovery Play, Creative Play, Imaginative Play, Manipulative Play, Experimental Play, and Social/Physical Play. For each type, the assignment provides a brief description and illustrative examples of how children engage in these activities.

Unit 5, Activity 1 – Types of Play: Assignment 1
Type of Play Brief description of each type of play Examples for types of
play
Discovery Play Helps the child to discover about things such
as their size, shape or texture. It generates
curiosity in children 1.
Playing in the sandpit
Discovering colour of natural
objects
Creative play It is a type of play which allows the child to
express their own idea. It may be in form of
hand skills, learning skills or imaginative
skills2.
 Painting
 Making dough
models of animal or
things
Imaginative play
It is a type of imaginative or fantasy activity
where children imagines a character and
attempts to behave like them
 Imitate ways of
cooking like mother
 Imitate the action of
animals
Manipulative play It is a type of play activity in which children
use their hands and brain to make things in
order and skilfully using hands to complete
 Play with soft mud to
make toy
 Matching colours or
1 Norman, Amanda. "Observing discovery play." Early Years Educator 16.9 (2015): 27-30.
2 Lillard, Angeline S., et al. "The impact of pretend play on children's development: A review of the
evidence." Psychological bulletin 139.1 (2013): 1.

Type of Play Brief description of each type of play Examples for types of
play
or arrange an activity shapes
Experimental play
Experimental playare innovative games
where main purpose is to develop mental
skills of children and help child experiment
different roles and important topic of
learning.
 Making puzzles
 Stacking or
organizing number
blocks
Social play A play in which group of children play
together and interact with each other. This
type of play is structure and imaginative. It
teaches them social skills like
communicating and cooperating with
people.
 Group of children
playing house
making games
 Children playing tug
of war
Physical play A type of play in which child engages in
active physical movement. It enables
children to use their energy and develop fine
gross and motor skills3.
 Running in the open
area
 Swinging from tree
 Climbing
3 VanHoorn, Judith, et al. Play at the center of the curriculum. Pearson Higher Ed, 2014.

Reference
Lillard, Angeline S., et al. "The impact of pretend play on children's development: A review
of the evidence." Psychological bulletin 139.1 (2013): 1.
Norman, Amanda. "Observing discovery play." Early Years Educator 16.9 (2015): 27-30.
VanHoorn, Judith, et al. Play at the center of the curriculum. Pearson Higher Ed, 2014.