Children's Play and Early Childhood Education: Insights from History and Theory

Play has long been a significant part of early childhood education programs. How play is used in programs today, as well as how it is regarded, often relates to how play has been conceived at various times in the past. Understanding how play has been interpreted throughout history and how educators and psychologists view play today can help teachers of young children better understand the nature of play and how to use it in early childhood programs. This article reviews the history of the portrayal of play in art and literature, and both the classical and contemporary theories of play.