In New Zealand, play is considered as an important aspect of children’s learning especially in Early Childhood Education. Dockett and Fleer (2002) explain that Play is considered as a potentially powerful medium for learning and a strong experience for those involved in it. According to Oliver and Klugman (2002), “play is the way a child explores his world, builds skills and exercises his imagination and learns through experiences” (p. 66).

What did I do or think in relation to children learning through play before the discussions and presentation? :- Before discussions I did think that play is just for fun, amusement and good time pass for children. Earlier play was important for me, but wasn’t that important as it comes clear after the discussions.

What do I think now in relation to children learning through play :- Undoubtedly, play is the strong base for children’s physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. Importance of social confidence & long-term effects (MoE, 1996).

Physical play strengthens children’s gross motor skills through activities like riding bikes, swings, water play, running, climbing, kicking balls as well as fine motor skills by involving in activities of drawing, painting, cutting, playing with dolls. Play also holds significant importance for children’s cognitive development. It helps them in problem solving, reasoning and thinking while they are involved in plays such as puzzles, dramatic play, block play and storytelling. (Bruce, 2001) explains that language development through play is also fostered in children by verbal and non-verbal communication while expressing their feelings, interacting with playmates and listening to other’s language (Cited in New Zealand Tertiary College [NZTC], 2012).

According to Glover (2001), through play, children develop and extend their social skills and develop relationships when they interact with others. Playing in groups or pairs (Cooperative play) allows them to practice their skills of sharing, turn taking, self-control and co-operating while participating in dramatic and creative plays. Children extend and practice their knowledge of the wider world through role play such as: fire fighter, doctor, father, etc. During group plays, children get the opportunity to express and control their feelings, understand others feelings, learn to resolve internal fears and conflicts. Active participation of children in their own world fosters mastery and control resulting in providing the feelings of competency and self-efficacy. Play also helps children to discover about self-including likes and dislikes (Klien, Wirth, & Linas, 2004).

According to the principle of holistic development in Te Whāriki, learning and development includes opportunities for open-ended exploration and play. For example, children love to play in sandpit, water, papers where there is no limit of amount of things that they can do with them. Materials can engage them for hours as they watch the effects that their actions can have on them (Ministry of Education [MoE], 1996). This theory is also linked with goal 4 of strand of exploration which explains that “children experience an environment where they develop working theories for making sense of the social, physical and natural worlds.”(MoE, 1996, p.90) and learning outcomes also include knowledge, skills and attitudes.