Play Theories in Early Childhood

Psychoanalytic Theory
According to Freud, play provides a free and safe environment in which children can satisfy their desires and symbolically express or suppress their traumatic experiences. Children often choose people from their real lives as characters in their play, reflecting feelings such as love, anger, or resentment toward those individuals. By imitating these figures, children are able to reduce anxiety related to their real-life interactions and gain a sense of emotional control.

Psychosocial Theory
According to Erikson, play is a process through which children resolve emotions and problems that they cannot manage in real life by using their imagination. Through imaginative play, children prepare themselves for different roles they may assume in the future and support the development of their identity and social competence.

Cognitive Development Theory
A large part of play consists of mental activities. Play is based on the processes of assimilation and accommodation.

• Assimilation refers to explaining or understanding new situations using existing cognitive schemas.

• Accommodation involves modifying existing schemas or creating new ones in response to new information.
  

Piaget categorized play into developmental stages:

• Practice (functional) play: 0–2 years

• Symbolic play: 2–7 years

• Games with rules: 7–12 years