ABSTRACT This qualitative study offers a unique perspective on the integration of play and traditional collective teaching in Southeast China, focusing on two public kindergartens that predominantly serve children from low-income, ethnically diverse families. The research explores how teachers in this context navigate the balance between guided play and collective teaching, a practice deeply rooted in Chinese educational traditions. The findings reveal that teachers embraced play with clear intentionality, proactively engaged in play activities, and infused a sense of playfulness into collective teaching. This approach highlights an alternative way of implementing play-based pedagogy in a cultural and educational setting where play has not traditionally been emphasized. By considering culture, context, and the individual needs of children, this study highlights the importance of rethinking and reconceptualizing the roles of play and teaching in early childhood education.
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