“The Child’s Right to Play Conference” Opening Speech: Some Thoughts and Data

The present article highlights the importance of play, dreams and imitation in the child s cognitive development as presented by Jean Piaget in his book entitled “Play, Dreams and Imitation”, and presents comparative world data on ages of starting primary education as well as its duration, in relation to the newly formulated 4+4+4 model of the Turkish Educational System, operant since the 2012-2013 academic year. In addition, information about OHDIDA and FETAPO instruments and curriculum programs for assessing and developing early childhood objectives, formulated by the researcher is shared. The results of research on OHDİDA, carried out in the 2012-2013 academic year at Boğaziçi University Center for Preschool Education are presented.