When children are involved in associative play, they do which of the following?

When children engage in associative play, they demonstrate an awareness of one another while interacting in a somewhat cooperative manner. In this phase, children start to play alongside each other and may share toys or converse, but they are not yet working toward a common goal as seen in more advanced forms of social play like cooperative play. The activities can be loosely coordinated, allowing for interaction and conversation, which helps in developing social skills and understanding of social dynamics.

In contrast, other play types involve different dynamics. For example, purposeful, group-oriented play activities fall under a more structured form of play, such as cooperative play, where children work together towards a shared objective. Independent play, where children are engrossed in their own activities without much interaction, reflects a more solitary form of play that does not capture the essence of associative play. Lastly, selecting larger group activities to foster leadership and competition indicates a more organized structure that transcends associative play. Each of these descriptions reflects different stages or styles of play progression in children's development.