CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: THE CONTRIBUTION OF PLAY TO THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS

Abstract

This study's central objective is to investigate the teaching and learning process in early childhood education, with an emphasis on the initial phase of children's school life and the importance of play in this context. We thoroughly analyze how play plays a fundamental role in cognitive, emotional development and social aspects of children during their experience in Early Childhood Education. Therefore, the integration of play into the early childhood education curriculum is essential to promote a rich and stimulating learning environment for children, contributing to their holistic development. Furthermore, we carefully examine the strategies that educators can adopt to effectively integrate play into their teaching practices, considering children's distinct stages of development. Our academic trajectory has enriched our understanding of playfulness, especially through reading. This learning stimulated our desire to develop activities that expand the teaching process beyond the classroom environment. This research project follows a qualitative approach and will understand the perspective of teachers who work with children aged 4 and 5 at Escola Municipal Santa Rosa, located in the city of Serrita-PE. We use questionnaires and detailed observations of activities that incorporate play as a learning tool. Finally, it concludes that play is a valuable contribution to the teaching and learning process in early childhood education, providing a solid basis for the integral development of children, that is, in the cognitive, emotional and social development of children, encouraging creativity and exploring the environment around you. This, in turn, lays a solid foundation for child development.