A brincadeira no berçário como objeto de investigação científica (2009-2023)

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate and analyze academic productions on play in the nursery setting. It is a qualitative, bibliographical research study, based on a systematic literature review, which involved consulting the Proceedings of the National Association of Graduate Studies and Research in Education (ANPEd) from 2009 to 2023, specifically Working Group 07, which focuses on the education of children aged 0 to 6 years, using previously defined keywords. As theoretical support, the study draws on Vygotsky (1998), Brougère (1997), Pedrosa (2009), Barbosa (2021), and others who discuss play as an essential process for child development. The study is guided by the following research question: to what extent has babies’ play within the context of Early Childhood Education institutions been addressed as an object of investigation in ANPEd’s annual meetings from 2009 to 2023? The text highlights play as a structuring axis of pedagogical practices—alongside interactions—as established by the National Curriculum Guidelines for Early Childhood Education (2009). Based on a detailed analysis of the selected articles, the results indicate a scarcity of studies addressing play in nursery settings. Thus, the present study offers reflections that point to the need for research focused on play during the early years of life, within the daycare context.