Solitary play, also known as independent play, is a stage of play where children play alone without social interaction. It is one of the earliest stages of play, and children engage in solitary play because they have not yet developed socially to be able to play with others or because they choose alone time. Solitary play is considered the second of Mildred Parten Newhall’s six stages of play. During solitary play, children have the freedom to explore their interests without the influence or direction of others, which allows them to tap into their innate creativity. Solitary play helps develop childrens creativity and the powers of concentration, persistence, and completion. It also promotes a sense of initiative, whether they choose to play with building blocks, dolls, animal figures, or other toys. Solitary play teaches children how to entertain themselves, which is helpful when parents need to get things done, and fosters their future independence. Solitary play is often first seen in children ages 0–2, before they start interacting and playing with other kids. However, even though children have developed socially to be able to play well with other children, there are times when they will want to play alone. Solitary play is a great way to aid babies in entertaining themselves and is a significant milestone for infants. Depending on the age of a child, solitary play activities can be different, but some common examples of solitary play include looking at pictures or bright colors, shaking a rattle to produce noise, playing with a baby gym, stacking blocks or cups, holding and looking at a toy, making a drum out of utensils, flipping through the pages of a book as if they are reading, setting up a kitchen and doing various activities, conducting a tea party with dolls, and working on a puzzle.