Any type of play that requires students to work together toward a shared goal is collaborative play. Because preschoolers need adult supervision and often require adult assistance, however, not all collaborative play is appropriate for this age group. Age-appropriate collaborative play includes time at reading or art centers, at which students can read to one another or work on an art project. Make-believe play, such as playing house, school or store, is also ideal for this age group. Collaborative play works best with preschoolers when it is relatively short -- usually 10 to 20 minutes -- and provides them with tools such as crayons or glue that they already have the skills to use.
To engage in collaborative play, children have to speak to one another and listen carefully. Because preschoolers are still mastering basic verbal and communication skills, this type of play is particularly important for their verbal and cognitive development. Collaborative play can expand preschool children's vocabulary, encourage clear speech and help them understand rules of conversation and social conventions, according to the textbook "Child Psychology."
Cooperative play can help children develop empathy, particularly when children engage in pretend play together, according to Kathy Hirsh-Pasek in her book "Einstein Never Used Flashcards." Preschoolers are particularly fascinated by pretend play, which provides ample opportunities to take another's perspective, encouraging empathy. When children collaborate with each other on a shared project or make-believe scene, they have to consider multiple perspectives and adjust their behavior accordingly to meet a shared goal. Developing empathy, Hirsh-Pasek explains, can help children master critical thinking skills, which are key for excelling academically.
Cognitive processes that regulate other cognitive processes are called executive functions. For example, when a child plans how much time she'll spend on homework or is able to inhibit her behavior, she's engaging in executive functioning. These important functions are key for academic, social and career success, because people with poor executive function have very limited self control. Preschoolers are just beginning to develop executive functioning skills, and collaborative play can encourage this development, according to California Services for Technical Assistance and Training.
Collaborative play fosters creativity because it encourages children to build upon each other's ideas, according to "Child Psychology." Collaborative play frequently incorporates elements of make-believe, negotiation over how to play and sharing opinions and beliefs. Preschoolers are capable of understanding that people have different views from their own, but might not have had much exposure to the process of negotiation that is common in collaborative play. This process can help children develop strong creative skills, which can help them excel at problem-solving, math, science, artistic endeavors, reading and writing.