The purpose of my study is to gain a wider and broader knowledge of the importance of the play for children's learning and development based on what the preschool teachers believe about this and how they perceive their own role in children's play to promote learning and development. My two questions are: What importance do the preschool teachers think that play has for children's learning and development? and How do the preschool teachers consider their own role in promoting learning and development threw the childrens play?

Since this is a qualitative study, I have used a qualitative research method that involves qualitative research interviews as a data collection method, since my research is based on interviews with six preschool teachers working at the preschool. I have tried to answer my questions by analyzing the results of the interviews with the preschool teachers, using three didactic questions: what, how and why. I have also used some of the central concepts taken from the study’s theoretical frameworks, that is Vygotskij´s sociocultural perspective, as analytical tools in my analysis. These analytical tools are interactions and communication, mediation, the proximal development zone and support.

The result of the study shows that the preschool teachers emphasize the importance of the children playing since it has a central importance for children's learning and development as it awakens their imagination, interest and creativity and stimulates many of their senses. Through the game, children learn to communicate and interact with others, and they learn a great deal of other things. But in order to be able to learn and develop in the game, the children must be offered the right conditions in terms of time, material, the right environment and freedom. This is where the preschool teachers role comes in. It is the preschool teachers' responsibility that children get the right conditions to play. The preschool teachers can also support through their presence and their commitment.