The following is excerpted from an online article posted MedicalXpress
A new study has uncovered the ways different types of play are linked to children’s social abilities and brain activity. The research has uncovered how children’s play styles differ depending on whether they are playing alone or with someone else, and how these differences relate to their social skills and brain activity.
Pretend play was found to be boosted in joint play, as the children pretended more when playing with a partner than when playing alone. This joint pretend play was linked to better social abilities—children with fewer peer problems and more prosocial behaviors (such as sharing and helping) were more likely to engage in it.
The study revealed that toy choice reflected children’s social skills. In joint play, children tended to focus on the dolls themselves, whereas in solo play, they spent more time with accessories. Children with stronger prosocial skills played more with dolls overall, particularly when playing alone, while those with more peer difficulties preferred non-doll objects.
Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-reveals-children-play-links-social.html