Ludicidade e aprendizagem: o papel dos jogos e brincadeiras no desenvolvimento e na aprendizagem

Abstract

Playfulness constitutes a relevant dimension of the educational process, especially during childhood, a period marked by intense cognitive, social, emotional, and communicative transformations. In this context, games and play can foster more meaningful learning experiences by enabling active participation of the child, environmental exploration, problem-solving, social interaction, and knowledge construction. The present study aimed to analyze the role of playfulness, games, and play in child development and learning processes. This is an integrative literature review of a qualitative and descriptive-analytical nature, based on scientific studies published between 2020 and 2025. Works related to the use of games, play, and playful learning strategies in educational settings and their repercussions on different dimensions of child development were considered. The analyzed studies showed associations between playful practices and improvements in academic learning, motivation, engagement, creativity, problem-solving, language development, mathematical reasoning, computational thinking, and social skills. It was also observed that teacher mediation plays a fundamental role in maximizing the results of playful activities, particularly when clear pedagogical goals are established, alongside age appropriateness and a balance between child autonomy and guidance. It is concluded that playfulness represents an important pedagogical resource to promote meaningful learning and holistic development, provided it is used in a planned, contextualized manner aligned with children's needs. Digital games can expand these possibilities, but they should act complementarily to in-person, social, and symbolic experiences.