Shaping pedagogical approaches to learning through play: a pathway to enriching culture and heritage in Abu Dhabi kindergartens

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Social Affairs has launched an initiative to revive traditional play so as to increase children’s knowledge of the UAE’s rich culture, traditions and heritage. Inspired by the initiative, this qualitative study is a synthesis of locally written historical accounts interlaced with 52 Emirati kindergarten (KG) teacher voices, to describe defining aspects, features and meanings of Emirati play from a cultural-ecological perspective within a nation of rapid social change. Play is discussed so as to encourage teacher awareness of cultural persuasions of play, and to enrich Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) KG pedagogy with Emirati culture and heritage. The purpose is for teachers of all nationalities at ADEC KGs to develop an awareness of cultural persuasions of play, and to give consideration to how such concepts can shape pedagogical approaches and enrich learning in ADEC KGs.