The ludic activity in the childhood education: a cultural-historical approach

Abstract

The article is based on the cultural-historical theory to discuss the paper of the play in the formal education, especially in the first years of the basic education. First, concepts as of the Zone of Proximal Development and internalization of the higher mental functions are presented for, after that, implying them in the vygotskian definition of the play. Later, under the shelter of the contributions of Elkonin, the use of the playful activities in the educative context is emphasized, considering the four general principles proposed by the author to explain the function carried out by the play in the psychological development.