The Importance of Play in the Kindergarten Classroom

1. Hands-On Learning

1.1. Play based learning allows learning to become individualized (Biermeier, 2015)

2. Social Interaction

2.1. Children develop intellect through everyday social interactions with other children and adults (Gadzikowski,2013)

3. Cognitive Development

3.1. Play provides children with thousands of naturally occurring opportunities to stretch their minds Estes & Krogh, 2012)

3.2. Teaching children to collaborate with one another and learn from each other, not competing with each other (Lefrancois, 2012)

3.3. Need to Study Teacher's Thoughts and Experiences

4. National Association for the Education of Young Children Approved Curriculum

4.1. Play in the curriculum is an approved developmentally approved practice (NAEYC Position Statement, 2009)

5. Scientific Proof of How Children Learn

5.1. Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development studied how children develop intellectually (Piaget, 1974)

6. Physical Development

6.1. Play allows skill building and helps young children achieve goals that are developmentally and educationally significant(Zambo,2008)

6.2. Need to Study Teacher's Thoughts and Experiences - Pros and Cons