Social development unfolds through play. From simple sensory exploration with infants to complex cooperative games in preschool, we explore Mildred Parten’s Six Stages of Play along with the theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, and Bandura. This training helps early childhood educators recognize, support, and extend children’s play as a foundation for social-emotional and cognitive growth. Participants will examine real-world examples, reflect on children’s behavior, and explore strategies for supporting shy, withdrawn, or isolated children through observation, modeling, and responsive interaction.