What type of play is characteristic of toddlers aged 1-3 years?

The correct answer is parallel play, which is a typical form of play for toddlers aged 1 to 3 years. During this stage, children engage in play alongside one another but do not directly interact with or coordinate their activities with others. They may use similar toys or engage in similar activities, but each child plays independently, often imitating what they observe. This type of play helps develop their social skills as well as their ability to focus and engage with their environment.

At this age, children's cognitive and social skills are still developing, and they are learning how to be around others without engaging in the cooperative play that typically emerges later. As they progress in their development, they will gradually start to exhibit cooperative play, where they work together, follow rules, and share toys. Simultaneously, solitary play, where a child plays alone without acknowledging others, is more characteristic of younger infants. Structured play, which involves organized games with specific rules, is more common in older children as they develop further social and cognitive skills.