Objectives

This chapter has the following objectives:

• To support understanding of the importance of play in the holistic scientifi c development of early years' children.

• To support understanding of different play pedagogies that support early scientific development.

• To provide quality examples of early years' play pedagogies suitable for children up to 8 years of age.

Overview

Play is an important developmental tool, rather than just an informal aspect of childhood. Children's actions are often misconstrued as messing about without purpose as opposed to the purposeful activities we engage in throughout life. Play is of great use in early childhood, and is of value to professionals. This chapter addresses the theoretical aspects of play and its support of child development. It discusses play in the pre-school to Grade 2 school curriculum and the role of the professional in play pedagogies.

The importance of play

The importance of play is assured through the work of many theorists. Rousseau (1911) in his work ‘Emile’ identified his belief that children should be allowed to develop through play free from the restrictions imposed by society, and that early pedagogies should provide a balance between individual freedom and happiness and control from society. Most importantly, Rousseau (1911) stressed the importance of personalised learning, emphasising that adults and the context should accommodate the individual child rather than the child be expected to change to suit the adult or context. Rousseau's influence has stretched over the centuries, and it is not surprising that he is regarded as the ‘Father of Education’. Child-centred and experiential learning, central to both play and scientific development, are legacies of Rousseau's theories.