Famous Philosophers on the Theory of Play

Maria Montessori has shown that play can be
important for healthy development. She believes
that for play to occur a child must be using their
creativity, the actions must be enjoyable and
voluntary, the play must help the child develop
socially, and play can help the child expand-upon
new ideas. Her philosophies and teachings show a
culmination of the philosophers, educators, and
psychologists that came before her. We see
Friedrich Froebel's principles of choice, Lev
Vygotsky and Erik Erikson's belief in the
importance of the imagination, and John Locke's
belief that education as recreation or play would
leave to a love of knowledge.
In conclusion, the concept of children playing can
be found across history, cultures, and philosophies. It is a concept that has led many philosophers to
believe that through play a child can learn, grow, and improve their social development skills.