El joc lliure: un espai natural per al desenvolupament infantil

This article presents different arguments that defend and support the importance of free play throughout the first 6 years of life. The features that define it are commented and related to some of the contributions of great psychology theorists. The child is understood as a being with much potential, and we can see how, through playing activities, they develop their personality in an integral manner, beginning and reaffirming different learning instances. Special emphasis is laid upon cognitive development, mainly because of the complexity implied in its assessment in comparison with such areas as language, motor skills, and socialization, which are more easily observed. With this aim, some examples of free play are included, where this development is explained introductorily. At the same time, child development is observed from different types of games naturally present during this period, from exploratory activities to symbolic play and organized play, and link-ing the latter to their entry into formal education. Finally, importance is given to the presence of adults, as a close person that educates and has to begin from very clear previous attitudes if they are to share free play spaces with children, thus promoting that play areas also become educational settings.