Scenario) You are working in an early childhood environment and there is conflict within the team about the nature of play and its role in the curriculum. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the nature of play, explaining what it is, why children engage in it and how it contributes to children's development and learning. Engage critically with the literature and include the views of leading theorists on the meaning of the game. “Early childhood education is underpinned by a strong tradition that considers play essential to learning and development” (Wood & Attefield, 2005: 1). This view comes from educators such as Vygotsky, Frobel, Bruce, Isaac and Moyles who conducted various research and observations on the effects of gaming. Despite this, the nature of play and its role in the curriculum continues to be critically analyzed and debated, particularly beyond the early years of school. This essay seeks to outline the importance of play by analyzing what it is, why children engage in it and how it contributes to development and learning. In today's society, play is associated with childhood as many believe that children are the only people who engage with play, however Moyles (1989) states otherwise, he begins to explain that "play is undoubtedly a means through which humans and animals explore a variety of experiences in different situations for different purposes" (1989: ix). This is evidently true, since when adults receive a new gadget their initial reaction is to play with the different components. It is through frequent use of that same object that individuals begin to become familiar with the object and its components: "in a child's play this is known as functional play" (Moyles, 1989). A hand or... middle of paper... without play, the outcome of such situations leads to negative effects on learning and development. So this makes a strong argument for why play plays a central role in the early years curriculum. Works Cited Bruce, T (2001). Learning through play: Babies, Toddlers and the Foundation Years, London: Stoughton Educational Hoorn, J, Patricia, N, Scales, B and Alward, K (1993). Plays at the Curriculum Centre, USA: MacmillanMoyles, J (1989). Just Playing?, Philadelphia: Open University PressSmidth, S (2002) A Guide to Early Years Practice, London: Routledge FalmerTassoni, P and Beith, K (2002) Diploma Child Care and Education, Surrey: Heinemann EducationalWood, E and Attfield, J Play, Learning and Early Years Programme, Devon: Paul ChapmanEyfs 1 2http://www.playwales.org.uk/downloaddoc.asp?id=1&page=67&skin.=0