Study sheet for early years educator training · Play
Early years educator training flashcard: Classical theories of play
Classical approaches explain play as releasing surplus energy, recovery, practising future tasks or repeating earlier stages of development. Today they are viewed as partial perspectives.
Classical theories link play with energy, recovery, preparation and repetition.
Key professional terms
Energieüberschuss
Using surplus energy
Erholung
Balance and relaxation
Vorübung
Practising future abilities
Example from early years practice
In family role-play, children practise roles, language and negotiation.
Memory sentence
„No single theory explains all play.“
Typical exam question
Which classical theories of play do you know?
Model answer
Surplus-energy, recreation, pre-exercise and recapitulation theories.
Transfer question and answer
Does the pre-exercise theory explain all play?
No. It explains preparation for the future, but not every motive and form of play.
Last professionally reviewed: 4 September 2026