Definition of play Play is a behavioral characteristic that and manifests in a variety observable behaviors. Play is pleasurable, and had a positive effect on those participating. It allows children to have the power to make decisions and be in control of outcome of the play activity. Play is intrinsically motivated, and children play because they want to play. Adults can assist, support, and participate in play but the motivation must come from the child. Play is nonliteral and carried out as if the activity were real. It involves symbolism that includes creative and imaginative behaviors. Play is meaningful and requires active engagement where the child is participating and totally involved in the activity. Rules of play are established by the children. They determine how play will occur, who will play, what they will say, and how they will say it. Play is focused on the process of what is happening not the outcome, and children can choose different goals/directions as the activity unfolds.
Play theories …show more content…
Freud viewed play as pleasurable for social and emotional development, and play provided wish fulfillment for the child (Sluss, 2015). Erikson believed that play let to social and emotional development through mastery of psychosocial crisis. Piaget believed that play facilities and follows development as while as the child’s intellectual level was reflected in play (Sluss, 2015). Piaget thought that there were three stages of play which are functional play, symbolic/dramatic play, and games with rules (Sluss, 2015). Vygotsky believed that development occurs during play because play creates the zone of proximal development thus leading to higher-level thinking and social development (Sluss,