Social skills and socialization
| Stage 1 | At this stage children wander around and watch others play. They do not participate or talk to the others playing. |
| Stage 2 | At this stage children watch others play, ask questions and make suggestions but do not participate. They are likely to leave if asked to interact. |
| Stage 3 | At this stage children play alone. They might act out a role alone with no apparent awareness of others. They select a toy with which to play but show no interest in other children's activities. |
| Stage 4 | At this stage children play near other children and may play with the same objects but they do not intereact with the other chidren. The children play side by side and at times they might make conversation with themselves but not with the other children in the same area. |
| Stage 5 | At this stage children play with each other; are engaged in activites; and they may exclude some children. They rearely negotiate about the direction of their play. They interact with others at various times to share props, or, to have a partner in play. |
| Stage 6 | At this stage children organize their play, assigning roles, and negotiating turns. There is constant chatter about the roles the children are playing. They recognize the benefits of working together. They are able to share the maerials and take turns using them. |
Source : MacDonal, S. (1997) The Portfolio and Its Use : A Road Map for Assessment.
Southern Early Childhood Association