Famous Philosophers on the Theory of Play

Friedrich Froebel believed that the purpose of
education was to encourage and guide man. In his
philosophies, he proposed that man was a
conscious, thinking, and perceiving being. From a
child to an adult, education must show him the
ways and meanings of attaining a goal. To this
end, education must have aspects of personal
choice. In children, personal choice can be
expressed through play. They must have the
choice to choose what type of play, or education,
they will engage in. These choices will result in
their 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 education
should be tailored to the public needs. He points
out that education is not to point out who will rule,
but who will follow in patriotism. To this end, he
argues that boys and girls should receive the same
teaching. In order for the children to be receptive to
eructation, Plato believes that the educational
process should begin as early as possible. He
suggests that 3 to 6 year olds should play different
games. Older children should play the same
games with the same rules. By playing the same
games, children can learn to follow the rules and
become accustomed to being ruled by good
principles. The need for rules in play, similar play,
and play in education will create a sustainable
society.
Lev Vygotsky: Introduction of Abstract Play