PLAY AS THE STRUCTURING AXIS OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CURRICULUM: HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES

Abstract

Playfulness occupies a central position in contemporary discussions on Early Childhood Education because it constitutes an essential element for children's holistic development and the organization of pedagogical practices. In this context, this study aimed to reflect on play as the structuring axis of the Early Childhood Education curriculum, analyzing its contributions to children's cognitive, motor, emotional, and social development, as well as the pedagogical aspects that promote holistic human development. This qualitative study was conducted through a literature review based on the critical analysis of books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and normative documents selected from recognized academic databases. The findings reveal a broad consensus in the literature that play extends beyond its recreational dimension, constituting the language of childhood and a privileged learning strategy capable of enhancing higher-order cognitive functions, fostering psychomotor development, strengthening emotional bonds, and promoting social skills. The analysis also demonstrates that guiding policy documents, such as the Brazilian National Common Core Curriculum (Base Nacional Comum Curricular – BNCC), establish playfulness as a structuring axis of the curriculum, assigning teachers the role of mediators in organizing meaningful learning experiences. Nevertheless, challenges remain regarding the persistence of school-centered instructional practices, teacher education, and the availability of pedagogical resources, all of which may hinder the effective implementation of this right. It is concluded that recognizing play as a structuring principle of Early Childhood Education requires overcoming reductionist conceptions of childhood and promoting intentional pedagogical practices that respect the specific characteristics of child development, ensuring meaningful learning and contributing to children's holistic development.