Applying Explicit Play Strategies to Support Kindergarten Teachers in Enhancing Children’s Cognitive Competency

Almost all experts agree that early childhood education (ECE), especially at the preschool level, is a crucial time for brain development and starting the learning process that will continue through life. It is also a key time for a child's whole development (UNICEF, 2021). Actually, during this age children develop the basic brain, social, and emotional skills that will determine their learning success and personal growth for their whole lives. High-quality early childhood education is a very important factor in the ability to learn, that is why a good preschool education is highly recommended. For instance, quality education at this level leads to the acquisition of key cognitive skills such as memory, reasoning, problem-solving, etc., which are the very first steps towards school success and further development of other areas of the child's life. Play-based learning is a fun and very effective way of teaching children. Studies show that structured and targeted play can promote the cognitive development of young children (Yee et al. 2022; Gica et al. 2025; Gaffar et al. 2021).