The Importance of Play
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Top of Form | Play: A Historical Review | By Carolyn R. Tomlin | “Play: The voluntary activity pursued without ulterior purpose and, on the whole, with enjoyment or expectation of enjoyment” (English and English, 1958).Early theorists, as well as those of the present day, have been fascinated by the way children play. How does a child learn social interaction with his peers? Does creativity and imagination foster a higher form of play? How do children learn to share and take turns?Theories of Play Theories of play were first developed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Four theories affected the perception of why and how children play: the surplus energy theory, the recreation theory, the instinct theory and the recapitulation theory. In the surplus energy theory, advocates maintained that the child builds up an excess of energy, and that active play is necessary to get rid of the surplus. Curtis (1916) proposed that when a child or animal does not need to expend all its energy in obtaining food, shelter, or gaining a living that the leftover energy would be used for play.The recreation theory focuses on play as a way to recuperate from fatigue experienced from hard work. In other words, play restores energy and provides more benefit to the body
Physical Activity for Children | Topics In Early Childhood Education | Art and Creativity in
Early Childhood Education | | | | | Job Sharing Board | State Licensing Requirements | | | | |
Subscribe today to our bi-weekly newsletter! | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------
Top of Form | Play: A Historical Review | By Carolyn R. Tomlin | “Play: The voluntary activity pursued without ulterior purpose and, on the whole, with enjoyment or expectation of enjoyment” (English and English, 1958).Early theorists, as well as those of the present day, have been fascinated by the way children play. How does a child learn social interaction with his peers? Does creativity and imagination foster a higher form of play? How do children learn to share and take turns?Theories of Play Theories of play were first developed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Four theories affected the perception of why and how children play: the surplus energy theory, the recreation theory, the instinct theory and the recapitulation theory. In the surplus energy theory, advocates maintained that the child builds up an excess of energy, and that active play is necessary to get rid of the surplus. Curtis (1916) proposed that when a child or animal does not need to expend all its energy in obtaining food, shelter, or gaining a living that the leftover energy would be used for play.The recreation theory focuses on play as a way to recuperate from fatigue experienced from hard work. In other words, play restores energy and provides more benefit to the body