Questions and Answers
What is the age range for presymbolic level 1?
At what age does symbolic level 1 occur?
What developmental emergence is observed at symbolic level 5 (3 years)?
Sequences become longer and more complex.
What do children begin to do at symbolic level 8 (5 years)?
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Child begins to explore how toys work during presymbolic level 2.
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At symbolic level 3 (24 months), children develop __________ play.
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What age range corresponds to symbolic level 7?
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What is a key characteristic of presymbolic level 1?
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Child's roles are static at symbolic level 4 (30 months).
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Match the levels to their corresponding age ranges:
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Study Notes
Westby Play Scale Overview
- Presymbolic Level 1 (9-12 months): Development of means-end understanding and object permanence; beginning of functional play.
- Symbolic Levels: Progression from basic representational play to complex sequences involving various materials and imaginative scenarios.
Developmental Milestones by Age
- 9-12 Months: Children exhibit repetitive actions, exploring object interactions through simple cause-and-effect relationships.
- 13-17 Months: Increased exploration and understanding of toy functionality; cause-and-effect actions become observable.
- 17-19 Months: Emergence of autosymbolic play, where children imitate actions on themselves (e.g., drinking from an empty cup).
- 19-22 Months: Play expands to include others; combination of actions begins with dolls and other props.
- 24 Months: Pretend play represents daily experiences; beginning of action sequences involving multiple steps.
- 30 Months: Representation of less common life events (e.g., doctor visits); realistic props with shifting roles.
- 3 Years: Longer and more complex play sequences evolve, including associative play and interconnected events.
- 3-3.5 Years: Use of less realistic toys and increased imaginative play, such as using one object to represent another.
- 3.5-4 Years: Language becomes a tool for creating props and setting scenes; the ability to hypothesize about hypothetical situations emerges.
- 5 Years: Highly imaginative and organized play; children can plan sequences and coordinate activities with peers.
Key Characteristics of Symbolic Play Levels
- Symbolic Level 1 (17-19 Months): Use of common objects for appropriate functions; beginning of tool use and finding hidden toys.
- Symbolic Level 2 (19-22 Months): Interaction with dolls and toys, enhancing social play and imaginative scenarios.
- Symbolic Level 3 (24 Months): Simple sequences of play actions develop while using various construction materials; still largely isolated events.
- Symbolic Level 4 (30 Months): Child's play becomes richer with references to real-life experiences, yet remains short and isolated.
- Symbolic Level 5 (3 Years): Sequences grow more complex with themes from real-life experience; pretend play includes new outcomes not previously experienced.
- Symbolic Level 6 (3-3.5 Years): Less reliance on realistic props; engagement with imaginative scenarios using basic objects.
- Symbolic Level 7 (3.5-4 Years): Problem-solving and planning in play; ability to create scenarios involving long-term narrative structure.
- Symbolic Level 8 (5 Years): Full cooperative play with extensive organization of roles and tasks; imaginative play includes unexperienced scenarios.
Conclusion
- The Westby Play Scale illustrates the natural progression of play skills in children from simple, repetitive actions to complex imaginative and narrative-driven play scenarios. Each stage reflects increasing cognitive and social development, emphasizing the importance of play in early childhood learning and growth.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the Westby Play Scale with these flashcards. Each card covers different levels of symbolic and presymbolic play development in infants and toddlers, ranging from 9 to 30 months. Perfect for students and professionals in child development and education.
