Children's, Teachers' and Parents' Perceptions of Play.

A total of 103 children 2 through 6 years of age were interviewed and 73 of their parents and 60 preschool teachers completed a questionnaire about their perceptions of play. Most parents defined play as something for fun or amusement, while teachers saw it both as fun and as an opportunity for cognitive and social development. Both parents and teachers said they promoted play by providing a variety of materials and parents also said they played with their children. The majority of teachers did not view play as an integral part of the curriculum, but instead described a learn/play dichotomy. Parents did not support the idea of a large amount of time in preschool being spent in play. Children's favorite play activities according to children and their parents and teachers were outdoor play, dramatic play, blocks, and art activities. (Author/RH)