What stage of play is characterized by children working together to compete against another team?

The stage of play characterized by children working together to compete against another team is known as cooperative play. In this stage, children engage in group activities, displaying teamwork and collaboration to achieve a common goal or compete against others. This type of play fosters social skills, communication, and a sense of community among children as they learn to cooperate, negotiate roles, and share resources.

In contrast, parallel play involves children playing side by side but without direct interaction or collaboration, while associative play includes some interaction and sharing but not necessarily working towards a common goal. Solitary play refers to children playing alone with their own toys and not engaging with others, which is more about individual play rather than teamwork. Therefore, cooperative play distinctly highlights the aspect of collaboration and shared objectives in play among children.