When caregivers meet up for a baby or toddler play date, they often imagine instant laughter, shared toys, and the cutest little friends playing side by side. In reality, it is more common to see one toddler stacking blocks while another zooms cars across the floor, each happily absorbed in their own world. Far from being a problem, this kind of play is exactly what one should hope to see as children grow and learn. Play dates are valuable, giving children safe opportunities to be around peers while also giving caregivers a chance to connect with one another. For the children, though, it helps to remember that learning to play with others takes time. The earliest stages of play are less about teamwork and more about exploring, observing, and discovering at their own pace.

Children are not

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