The Role ofPlay in Children's Cognitive and Language Development

Play provides opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and manipulation that are essential for constructing knowledge and contributes to the development of representational thought. During play, children examine and refine their learning in light of the feedback they receive from the environment and other people. It is through play that children develop their imaginations and creativity. During the primary grades, children's play becomes more rule-oriented and promotes the development of autonomy and cooperation, which contributes to social, emotional, and intellectual development. Games as rule• governed forms of play can be exploited in second language teaching programs for children which highly invest on the hedonistic and imaginative characteristics of young learners.