Play is freely chosen, personally directed behavior that actively involves children. It is very important that early childhood professionals have a good understanding of this topic as the usefulness of play for a child's development is extremely significant. For children, play provides them with the skills needed to develop: socially, emotionally, physically and creatively. Bruce (2004) explores that play is a valuable tool for children to discover their environment and learn why things happen using all their senses both internally and externally. The hypothesis that will be discussed in this essay concerns the importance of play in early development and learning and how it satisfies both the individual needs of the child and the future society in which he will live. This will be discussed and explored with reference to the historical game. pioneers, legislation, policy, guidance and theoretical knowledge on the social, cultural and intellectual perspectives of the game. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework (2008), created under the Childcare Act (2006), offers all professionals across England guidance on a play-based approach to learning. Therefore, assuming that children learn by playing, practitioners and professionals need to offer planned and targeted play that has a balance between adult-led and child-initiated activities, as stated by QCA (2007). There should be a wide variety of different play methods that allow them to represent their own learning experiences. These opportunities offered to children in the first years of life require them to enhance and develop all their skills and abilities. This includes: communicating with peers and other adults, exploring different environments which include taking... middle of paper ......ole as part of learning for children. Play pioneers such as Friedrich Frobel, theorists such as Piaget, current legislation and guidelines, and support from parents and professionals around the world, understand, illustrate and provide evidence as to why play has such a critical role in the development and in every child's early learning. It allows children to learn through something they enjoy, perhaps without even realizing that they are learning on their own. Play has a key role in promoting the growth and development of children; physically, emotionally, socially, creatively and intellectually. If it were not for direct experience and learning through play, children would not develop and learn at the same rate as today as they have not yet learned the language, so it provides them with a form of communication and learning designed specifically for their age range.