“I Did It Myself”: The Necessity of Solo Play for Preschoolers

Abstract

Recent research about the benefits of solitude suggests that the capacity to play alone is an important developmental step, but the benefits of solitude in early childhood have not been fully researched. Current research on solitary play most often views solitary in contrast to social play, and focuses on how low rates of social interaction may negatively affect preschoolers. Children who play alone more than is typical fall into four groups: shy and non‐shy soloists, isolated and depressed children. Only the latter two groups present clear concerns during the preschool years. Solo play should be viewed as a capacity in its own right, not in contrast to social play. More research from this perspective is needed to investigate the regulatory and expressive benefits of playing alone for all preschoolers.