Associative Play is a type of play where children engage with one another while still maintaining their individual activities. During this stage, children may share toys, exchange ideas, and communicate, but they do not work towards a common goal. Instead, they enjoy each other's company and interact in a loose, social manner. This form of play typically occurs in early childhood, around ages 3 to 5. It helps develop social skills, such as cooperation and communication, as children learn to navigate relationships with their peers. Associative Play lays the foundation for more complex forms of play, like Cooperative Play, where children work together towards a shared objective.