The Role of Play in Early Child Development: An In-depth View

Albert Einstein once said, “Play is the highest form of research.” Play is a crucial component in a young child’s overall maturation as it relates to the five domains of development. Through exploration, discovery, and opportunities to create and grow one’s imagination, play fosters many learning experiences. Research of founding theorists such as Vygotsky, Piaget, Montessori, Frobel, Steiner, and Parten suggest that a direct correlation can be made between the influences of play and a child’s overall development in the five domains. This review will define play and the five domains of development while looking at the various influences related to play (e.g., environment, culture, technology, trauma, and communication partners). Furthermore, this analysis will examine the benefits of play being considered as a sixth domain and the importance of play versus a sole focus on academics for a child’s learning evolvement