Why do school-age children engage in cooperative play?

School-age children engage in cooperative play primarily due to an increase in social and cognitive development. During this stage, children are developing key skills such as communication, negotiation, and teamwork. As their cognitive abilities mature, they become better at understanding and managing social dynamics, which encourages them to collaborate with peers. Cooperative play allows them to share ideas, work towards common goals, and enhance their social interactions. This type of play is crucial for their emotional and social growth, helping them to build friendships and learn conflict resolution skills in a supportive environment.

In this context, the other options do not accurately reflect the reasons behind cooperative play. For instance, isolating oneself from peers contradicts the nature of cooperative play, which centers around interaction. Avoiding conflict does not promote cooperative engagement; rather, it might lead to avoidance behaviors. Lastly, while some children may struggle with social skills, cooperative play is more indicative of developing those skills rather than a lack of them.