parallel play

noun, verb — 2 senses

noun

A form of play involving two or more people doing the same play activity in the same location but without paying attention to one another.

verb

To engage in this form of play.

I got some legos and parallel played, imitating her actions. Upon my entering her play she tried to engage me in the chase game again.1999, Deborah Abelman, Peer-mediated Intervention Strategies for Social Competency Skills of Preschoolers with Autism in Integrated Settings, page 68:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.