Playing alongside other children
Young children often play next to each other with similar toys before playing together. One study found children moving back and forth between playing alongside and playing together several times in one session.
We haven't yet found studies that measured the age when most children start. The sections below say what is known.
How sure are we?
Not sure yet. The studies we've read so far don't give an age for this. How we know this
What it’s a sign of
Your child is interested in other children and learning how to join in.
An older idea saw playing alongside as a stage children grow out of. A later study suggests it's often a way into playing together.
We haven't yet read studies with ages for this.
A study that questioned earlier findings
The Strategic Use of Parallel Play: A Sequential Analysis
Roger A. Bakeman, John R. Brownlee · 1980 · Child Development
- Children
- About 40 children
- Where
- Not given in the summary we read
- Ages
- About 2½ to 3½ years
- How
- Researchers filmed children playing
- What it found
- Children often moved from playing alongside others into playing with them, several times within a session. Playing alongside seemed to be a way into group play, not a separate stage.
- Limits
- We have only read the summary.
If you’re worried about your child, talk to your child and family health nurse or GP.
Last checked 2 November 2026