At what age should children start to engage in parallel play?

Children typically start to engage in parallel play around the age of 2 years. At this stage of development, toddlers begin to play alongside other children rather than directly with them. This form of play is characterized by children playing in close proximity, often using similar toys or materials, but not necessarily interacting or collaborating with each other in their play activities.

This behavior signifies the early stages of social development, as children are beginning to understand the presence of peers and are learning to coexist in a shared play environment, which helps develop their social skills. As they approach the age of 3, they often move into more interactive forms of play, such as associative play, where they start to engage with each other more directly.