In this most immature form of play, a child randomly observes anything that catches their interest. If nothing catches their interest, they will occupy themselves by fidgeting or engaging in repetitive behavior, such as spinning in circles or banging hands on a table.

The child's observations are more deliberate in nature, in that the child chooses to observe children at play. They might even approach children playing and ask them questions about their play but does not attempt to play themselves.

As the name suggests, in solitary play a child chooses to play alone. The child might play near another group of children; however, they play with a different toy or activity and is self-absorbed in their own play.

In this type of play, the child chooses to play with the same materials as another child, such as two children playing alongside one another in the block center. One child might be building a spaceship, and the other might be building a zoo. They tend not to communicate, but if they do it is to talk about what they themselves are doing.

In associative play children choose to play together in a group with the same materials or activity. They share materials with one another and may even decide to work on an identical project; however there is no planning involved or organization of roles.

This is considered the most mature form of play. In cooperative play, children plan how their play will go. They discuss and negotiate roles, and they role-play and dramatize scenarios. In this form of play, children often need to compromise and forego their individual goals in order to sustain the play in the group activity.