What social behavior is common for children around 2 years old?

At around 2 years old, children typically engage in what is known as parallel play, which involves playing alongside other children rather than directly interacting with them. They may be aware of others and even mimic behaviors, but their play is usually solitary. This is a normal developmental stage as toddlers are still in the process of developing their social skills and learning how to interact with peers.

While cooperative play and sharing toys become more prevalent as children grow older and develop social skills, this level of interaction is generally not expected at the age of 2. Similarly, shyness with strangers can vary from child to child but is not a defining characteristic of this age group. Therefore, children around this age are most often seen engaging in solitary or parallel play, making it the correct answer.