CONTRIBUTIONS OF PLAY TO THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

Abstract

Play is a fundamental activity for child development and is recognized by different areas of knowledge as an essential element for cognitive, social, and emotional development. In the educational context, especially regarding children with learning difficulties, playful activities are important pedagogical strategies that support knowledge construction and cognitive development. This study aims to analyze, based on scientific literature, the contributions of play to the cognitive development of children with learning difficulties. This is a qualitative study developed through a bibliographic review of books, scientific articles, and academic documents addressing play, child cognitive development, and learning difficulties. The results indicate that play stimulates fundamental cognitive processes such as attention, memory, language, logical reasoning, and problem-solving. In addition, playful activities enhance motivation to learn, autonomy, and social interaction, which are relevant aspects of the educational process. It is concluded that play represents an effective pedagogical strategy to promote cognitive development in children with learning difficulties, contributing to more inclusive and meaningful educational practices.