> [!AI]+ > Toddlers typically begin to engage in collaborative play, also known as cooperative play, around the age of 3 or 4. Before this stage, younger toddlers may engage in what is known as parallel play, where they play alongside each other but do not interact or coordinate their play. As children approach preschool age, they start to develop the social, cognitive, and language skills necessary for cooperative play, where they can share ideas, negotiate roles, and work towards a common goal in their play activities. Parallel Play can be a useful norm for adult settings too. Often if we are working in proximity, we feel a social pressure to build something together. Setting a norm of "Parallel Play" It can help reduce the overheads of coordination and fairness, while getting the benefits of camaraderie, motivation, and shared leanings.