Conceptual and Pedagogical Differences Between the Terms “Brincadeira” and “Game” in Brazil

Abstract

This article is part of a thesis produced for a competitive examination for the full professor position. Its objective was to identify the theoretical differences between the concepts of “brincadeira”1 and “game,” the role of each one in children’s learning, and its implications in pedagogical practices in Early Childhood Education. The Cultural-Historical Theory was the basis for the theoretical research through the genetic method in the methodology from a bibliographic survey in books and scientific articles about “brincadeira” and “game,” and in Russian authors only about “game.” The results pointed out the importance of the differentiation between both terms in Early Childhood Education, as well as enabled the proposition that “brincadeira” is the main activity of children from 0 to 3 years old, and “game,” especially “role-play,” as the main activity of children from three to six years old. The importance of these results for children’s learning corroborates the centrality of the playful aspect in the activities of Early Childhood Education, distinguishing “brincadeira” and games in their contents, motives, needs, and specificities for children. This proposal to change the main activity in Early Childhood Education also indicates the need for “brincadeira” from 0 to 3 years old to develop into role-play games for children from 3 to 6 years old since both are essential for children’s activities to also change from involuntary to voluntary and volitional activities. The implications of this research for teaching practices are centered on the need for teachers to know and include role-play games in the activities of 3 to 6-year-old children, helping them develop autonomy, volitional activities, and self-control of their attitudes.