The important contribution of play to children's growth in a classroom setting is based on the fact that play holds together many facets of kindergartners' learning. Kindergarten learning and play are related to each other much as the spokes of a wheel are related to the wheel's hub. The hub of a wheel holds the spokes secure; it provides strength for the wheel to do its work and is the center of the wheel's activity. Similarly, children's intellectual, physical and social-emotional development is firmly embedded in play. Play is a strong enabler of children's learning skills, attitudes and knowledge. Play is the center of kindergarten activity.
The diagram below illustrates the pivotal role of play as interactive learning in the kindergarten curriculum. Each spoke represents the fact that play activity carries to children both the potential for learning skills, knowledge and attitudes related to curriculum areas, as well as experiences that enhance all aspects of the child's growth.
Each curriculum "spoke" fosters intellectual, physical and social-emotional development.
(A Guide to Program Development for Kindergarten, State of CT, 1QRR1
Play is a natural and important activity for children. It is through this active learning that children learn about the world around them and express their ideas and thoughts. Piaget called play a bridge between sensorimotor intelligence and operational thought, which includes pre-operational and concrete operational thought. Because language has not yet sufficiently developed in this transitional stage, play is also the primary vehicle for the expression of thought.
Play is important to the development of language, motor skills, social and emotional skills and concept formation. Play promotes problem solving and divergent thinking. Play is voluntary, active, spontaneous, pleasurable and intrinsically motivated, focusing on the activity itself rather than a goal. Piaget divided play into three stages= including the functional or exploratory behavior of infants; symbolic play; and games with rules, which includes the highly competitive sports of adults.