"Playing saves us": Playful dimension and resistance in USP kindergartens/preschools

Abstract

By investigating the possibilities of recovering the playful dimension of teachers working with young children, a main requirement for teaching, this article presents and discusses teachers' testimonies on their concepts and actions regarding plays/game, as well as observations of school days in one of the kindergarten/preschools of Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP). To do so, we did a qualitative case study with a group of 5-year-old children and their teacher, in addition to collective moments with the other children and teachers. We also conducted semi structured interviews with the observed teacher and the only male teacher in the staff. Moreover, we collected and analyzed documents, such as the Political Pedagogical Project of the institution. Data analysis was done articulating the Brazilian and foreign production of recent researchers on the field of childhood education pedagogy and social sciences (sociology and anthropology), and on the interface with arts, mainly corporal ones, in early childhood. When trying to understand how an education of sensitive listening and children protagonist, focused on the creation of playful spaces, times, and relations took place, we could see ways of fighting and territories of dispute for the right of kindergarten/preschool and, therefore, a reference and a resistance in favor of Brazilian Early Childhood Education.