Famous Philosophers on the Theory of Playcomponentplaygrounds.com /blog/famous-philosophers-on-the-theory-of-play.html

Posted by Ciera Nordin in Our News on March 16, 2015 . 0 Comments.

The idea that children engage in play on a regular basis is a belief that is universally held to be true.This truth can be found across cultures and throughout the history books; however, the content ofchildren's play differs across time and space. There is some evidence that play may also transcendspecies. The young of many other animals seem to exhibit behaviors that are similar to the play ofchildren. However, while play is apparently a universal truth, there are a number of necessaryconditions that need to be present for children's play to occur and be sustained.

Friedrich Froebel: The “Father” of the Kindergarten Concept

Friedrich Froebel believed that the purpose ofeducation was to encourage and guide man. In hisphilosophies, he proposed that man was aconscious, thinking, and perceiving being. From achild to an adult, education must show him theways and meanings of attaining a goal. To thisend, education must have aspects of personalchoice. In children, personal choice can beexpressed through play. They must have thechoice to choose what type of play, or education,they will engage in. These choices will result intheir attainment of specific, personal goals.

Plato: The Laws and the Republic Justify the Use of Play in Education

Plato's philosophies show us that the educationshould be tailored to the public needs. He pointsout that education is not to point out who will rule,but who will follow in patriotism. To this end, heargues that boys and girls should receive the sameteaching. In order for the children to be receptive toeructation, Plato believes that the educationalprocess should begin as early as possible. Hesuggests that 3 to 6 year olds should play differentgames. Older children should play the samegames with the same rules. By playing the samegames, children can learn to follow the rules andbecome accustomed to being ruled by goodprinciples. The need for rules in play, similar play,and play in education will create a sustainablesociety.

Lev Vygotsky: Introduction of Abstract Play

Lev Vygotsky's philosophies show us that childrencan develop abstract meaning separate from theobjects in the world. In other words, imaginary playcan help the child to develop new ways of thinking.Vygotsky goes on to say that imagination is a newformation, it is not something found in animals.Through play and actions a child's imagination cangrow. This is not something that can be found in ayoung child. It, imagination, must be nurtured andgrown throughout the course of a child's life.Through their imagination they can play and learnmore about realistic or unrealistic desires.

John Locke: Learning Should Be Achieved Through PlayPhilosopher John Locke believed that childrenwould develop a desire to be taught, if and only if,their learning was made into a recreation. Lockethought that children should not have work oranything serious laid onto them. He believed thatthe idea of "work" would injure a child's health. Inother words, children should be allowed to learnthrough play, not by being forced to read theirbooks. Through play and choice, children couldinstead learn to love their books, rather than hatethem.

Erik Erikson: Play is Necessary toSocial Development

Erik Erikson had similar theories to play theory issimilar to Lev Vygotsky. He believed that play wasa necessary factor in a child's social development.The play of children is not merely an expression oftheir conflicts and problems, rather, it is an attemptto find symbolic solutions. Much like Vygotskybelieved that the imagination led to abstractthinking and improved reasoning, Erikson thoughtthat play was crucial to a child's socialdevelopment. Through play the child could learn toresolve problems, not by concrete solutions, butthrough abstract thinking that could lead to internalsolutions.

John Dewey: Play is Akin to SurvivalJohn Dewey felt that the youngest children wouldhave been given objects to play with that wouldhave been necessary for survival. By playing withthese objects, children could learn to be an activepart of the community, while also enhancing theirodds of survival. For example, during the StoneAge children would have been given a stick tothrow and play with. The stick would haverepresented the future spear that the child wouldneed to wield in order to survive. Once again wesee that play is necessary for a child'sdevelopment of certain skills.

Melanie Klein: The Study of ChildAnalysis

Melanie Klein developed a technique of childanalysis that is still used today. Her “playtechnique” suggests that a child's play should beviewed as symbolic representations of theirunconscious thoughts and emotions. In this vein, achild's play activities should be interpreted in thesame way that dreams and free associations are inadult analysis. Through Klein's philosophies wenow view a child's play as a meaningful activitythat can and should be analyzed.

Jerome Bruner

Jerome Bruner was influential in helping peoplebetter understand how children play and buildtheir knowledge. He coined the term "scaffolding,"which describes how a child will build on theinformation that they have already mastered. Inthis way, a child's play can become moreadvanced as they master different skills. Themastery of these skills will lead the child toexplore new areas of interest. In short, a child'splay is sustained by their curiosity and ability tobuild upon previous knowledge.

Maria Montessori: Play ActivitiesShould Be Used For Healthy Development

Maria Montessori has shown that play can beimportant for healthy development. She believesthat for play to occur a child must be using theircreativity, the actions must be enjoyable andvoluntary, the play must help the child developsocially, and play can help the child expand-uponnew ideas. Her philosophies and teachings show aculmination of the philosophers, educators, andpsychologists that came before her. We seeFriedrich Froebel's principles of choice, LevVygotsky and Erik Erikson's belief in theimportance of the imagination, and John Locke'sbelief that education as recreation or play wouldleave to a love of knowledge.

In conclusion, the concept of children playing canbe found across history, cultures, and philosophies. It is a concept that has led many philosophers tobelieve that through play a child can learn, grow, and improve their social development skills.