At what age do children typically begin to engage in parallel play?

Children typically begin to engage in parallel play around the age of 2 years. At this stage of development, toddlers are usually more aware of other children but do not yet engage in direct interaction. Instead, they play alongside each other, often using similar toys, but without coordinating their activities. This form of play is significant because it represents a step in social development, where children start to learn about being in a social environment with peers, even if they are not actively playing together.

As children grow older, particularly around age 3 and beyond, they start moving towards more interactive forms of play, such as associative and cooperative play. However, parallel play is a foundational element of early childhood social interaction, marking an important milestone in their social development.