Which type of play involves a child watching others play without engaging?

Onlooker play is characterized by a child observing others as they engage in play without actively participating themselves. This type of play is common in early childhood development, where the child may be fascinated by the activities of peers but chooses to remain an observer rather than join in. It reflects a stage in social development where the child is learning about social interactions and various play themes while feeling comfortable to remain in the background.

In contrast, unoccupied play refers to a child who is not actively engaged in any particular play activity and may seem aimless in their actions. Solitary play involves a child playing alone with toys or activities, fully immersed and engaged without regard for what others are doing. Parallel play occurs when children play adjacent to each other, engaged in their own activities, but they are not interacting; they might use similar toys or play themes but do so independently. Onlooker play specifically focuses on the act of observing rather than participating, highlighting an important aspect of social learning in a child's development.