parallel play

American  

noun

1. a form of play in which a very young child plays independently in the presence of another child or other children.

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Etymology

Origin of parallel play

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Mr. Page is a professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Southern California and the author of “Parallel Play.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's a bit like parallel play," she says.

From BBC

And then parallel play when they're playing alongside someone else.

From Salon

“It’s incredible parallel play. We can both exist in our own world at our own level and have fun together.”

From Seattle Times

We’re all engaged in an adult form of parallel play, quietly feeding off of each other’s energy, alone but not alone.

From New York Times