This study aimed to consider the meaning that play has in the physical expression activity by reviewing the aesthetic meaning of play. As a result of examining the representative theories by Johan Huizinga, Hans Georg Gadamer and Friedrich von Schiller among a number of philosophers, it has been figured out that play has an aesthetic meaning as below. First of all, play is meaningful in the sense that it can lead the expansion of actual knowledge as an educational method. The teaching method of physical expression activity that elementary school teachers has struggled with has a potential to expand theories of play such as freedom, enjoyment and pleasure more variously and easily through the natural forms of play. At the same time, it is an ideal opportunity for children to have a natural right as human beings. Although play instinct may be sacrificed in the form of education, the fact that it is preserved as it is and respected in the teaching method and practice is never small meaning. Secondly, it has been found that play has a meaning toward aesthetic education in the physical expression activity. According to Friedrich von Schiller, play impulse is the most appropriate theory to maintain a balance between material impulse and form impulse. Moreover, these play impulses lead the total humanization of fundamental purpose of aesthetic education. This aesthetic education can be an education for art itself, and at the same time, it satisfies human education such as harmony with colleagues, consideration toward others and open minded attitude in their world. That is to say, aesthetic of the play provides a strong meaning in the sense that it can contribute to an all-round education, an ultimate purpose of education as a total process for humanization.