How is cooperative play characterized?

Cooperative play is characterized by children interacting with each other around a common interest in activities. This type of play involves collaboration, where children work together, share ideas, and often negotiate roles and rules within the play scenario. Through cooperative play, children learn important social skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

In this mode of play, children become more engaged and are more likely to build relationships with their peers. It allows them to explore their creativity while developing empathy and understanding of others' perspectives. The interactions in cooperative play are enriched because children share goals, making the experience more enjoyable and educational.

The other options describe forms of play that do not involve the same level of interaction and collaboration. For instance, playing alone, merely observing others, or engaging in parallel play without interaction are all indicative of different developmental stages or types of play, which lack the collaborative aspect essential to cooperative play.