When do children start really playing with other children?

[ItNeverRainsBut]

Rather than just alongside them? And to what extent would you expect a 3 and 1/2 year old to play with similar-aged children?

I'm just wondering because DD (3.6) doesn't play with other children a great deal. She is interested in other children and does interact a little, but mostly does her own thing (i.e. at nursery or toddler groups). When she was younger, this is what I pretty much expected, but I had thought that by this age children tended to play together more?

I thought so too, ItNeverRains, when ds1 was that age but I think what you describe is pretty normal.

I saw limited co-operative play in ds1 and his friends (male and female) from 3ish onwards but it was really pretty limited - they could sustain a chASING GAME OR (oops) maybe play shops together but even then they were really playing shops individually all together iyswim?

I think the big change has come at 4 with ds1. Now he and his friends really play cooperatively - all feeding ideas (and rules) into a common fantasy, and reacting to the ideas of others.

She is still very little and they all do it in their own time. I would expect it sometime before 4 yrs and 5 yrs.

OK, it is a bit later than I thought. Thanks guys!

about 2 and a half to 3 from memory of mine

It depends on the personality of the child, the presence of older siblings, and if the child is "in tune"/familiar with the other child they are playing with, ime.
Both my dc were able to play well with other children from around the age of 2 and a half with children they were familiar with (they didn't get along with all the children at nursery, for instance!)

I'd say that your dd is still little and there's plenty of time ahead of her. Or perhaps she hasn't yet met the "right" companion/s!

Oh yes, and I agree with wb that the older they grow, the better they become at "pretend" playing together (at around 4/5 ime)

It depends on the situation. I've noticed most 2/3 year olds will play together and alongside if they are in a home environment. The same children barely speak at toddlers as they're too busy using the space and toys.

I think as people have said it varies according to where they are and who they are with. My twins played interactively together from a very young age (they would gurgle to each other and then crawl off together to play), but did not play with other children until they started preschool. At toddler groups they just played alongside others.