The goal of this study was to analyze the relations between educational institutions and the act of playing of their students. Subjects of the study were 40 children, of both genders, 4-5 years of age, and 10 educators of five preschool institutions. The procedures for data collection included the videotaping of the children during unstructured recreation in their own institution and interviews with the educators. The main results indicate that the educational institutes are influential over the play behavior of their students. It was also verified that there is incoherence between the understanding and the practice of the professionals, regarding play. These results indicate a necessity to integrate the pedagogical agenda, the practices of formal curriculum and play, transforming and improving the quality of education offered by educational institutions.
play; educational environment; human development
