The word “game” has many meanings to different people in different contexts. Therefore, there cannot be just one definition and it is described in many ways. Smith (2010) describes play as participating in an activity, solely for the purpose of having fun and participating for its own sake. This piece is “made for its own sake, for pleasure, and not for any external purpose.” (Smith, 2010. P4) Therefore, as a precise definition cannot be presented for the word “play”, it is described in several ways, including social dramatic play. Briggs and Hanson (2012) describe social dramatic play as the building blocks of a child's ability to accept the possibility of entering another world, drawing on and developing on the higher order thinking of the child, emphasizing the child as a social learner. Another example of play is exploratory play, which is described as children being placed in an explorer or investigator role, to identify the cause or affect a resource presented to them. (Briggs, M and Hanson, A. 2012) Games are also another example of play. They are included in the basis of the fact that playing games with rules, regardless of age, can develop intellectual abilities of a child as well as their physical, behavioral and emotional health. (Briggs, M and Hanson, A. 2012). A play-based program is described by Van Hoorn as one "that uses the power of play to foster children's development...in which teachers take an active role in balancing spontaneous play, guided play, and games." and teacher-directed activities. » (Van Hoorn, J, 2011 p3) Based on the definitions of play provided, providing play at the center of the program is important because it builds on the child's strengths, rather than their weaknesses, thus creating basic elements to encourage the... middle of paper ...... and to whom they belong, while being reflects the importance of the present in a child's life and becoming recognizes the change experienced in early years of a child, because children are shaped by their experiences to learn and grow. (Australian Government Department of Education, 2009) Works Cited Smith, P (2010) Children and Play: Understanding Children's Worlds. Chicestor: Wiley Blackwell.Briggs, M and Hansen, A (2012) Play-based learning in primary schools. Sage, Los Angeles.Van Hoorn, J, Monighan Nourot, P, Scales, B & Rodriguez Alward, K 2011, Play at the Center of the Curriculum, 5th ed., Pearson, New Jersey.Preschool Learning Alliance, 2013, Learning Through Play, Last accessed April 7, 2014, .Carle, E, 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Penguin Putnam, New York.