Teaching in Play-Based Contexts

For some lay observers, play is mistakenly viewed as a leisure and uncomplicated activity done by young children. Lay observers may also see early childhood play-based settings as lacking academic opportunities for young children and may regrettably view the role of teachers in early childhood play-based contexts as simply custodial managers of chaos. However, a play-based context sets a stage for meaningful exchanges of thought that can beneficially challenge children’s understandings and be particularly suitable for transforming children’s everyday understandings to scientific knowledge.

While there have been shifts in theoretical approaches and differing texts on how one may view young children engaging in the human venture of science, early childhood play-based environments are settings for scientific inquiry, which can engender even the youngest of children to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and reflectors of reason.

Play as a Context for Learning About the World

The...