December 29, 2007
Saturday

“Parallel play” is a term used in developmental psychology to describe the stage, usually between the ages of two and three, when toddlers will sit beside each other and engage in similar activities. It follows the solitary or onlooker stage, where infants watch what is going on, and precedes the stage of cooperative play, when children interact with each other. Parallel play may serve as a bridge to more complex social activities.

McKenna, Lynn’s best friend from high school, is staying with us for a short time this holiday season. She lives in Utah with her father and stepmother and attends Brigham Young University, so we (and Lynn) don’t see her as much as we used to, as much as we’d like.

McKenna arrived yesterday. First they went out to see some friends, and when they came back they settled in for some girl time. I know that they talked late into the night, and Lynn’s door was closed when I got up this morning. I came home from shopping this afternoon to find the two of them sitting together on the couch. A picture is worth a whole lot of words today.

Lynn (left) and McKenna
(I am assured they are not IMing to each other.)

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