The purpose of this study was to find out how kindergarten teachers and elementary school teachers perceive
play as an instructional method. For this study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 5 kindergarten teachers and 6 elementary
school teachers. The results of the study are as follows: Firstly, kindergarten teachers perceived play as ‘a normal routine’,
‘a process in itself’, ‘foundation of holistic development’ and ‘the beginning of learning’. Secondly, elementary school
teacher perceived play as ‘having a linkage with kindergarten’, ‘an unfamiliar routine’, ‘rest’, and ‘a tool of learning’. In this
study elementary school teachers had difficulties in implementing play-centered curriculum in their integrated textbooks for
1st and 2nd graders. The significance of this study is that it explores the continuity of kindergarten and elementary school in
terms of instructional methods. Informed by these findings, this study emphasizes the role of empathy in play and recommends
this as an area that needs to be reflected into future revisions of the curriculum.