The thesis is composed of theoretical and empirical sections. The first chapter of the theoretical section includes the definition of play through various classifications of games, an overview of the developmental aspects of play in the preschool period, the influence of children's characteristics on play, an analysis of play characteristics based on gender, and the role of peers and adults in play. The second chapter describes traditional and contemporary games. The following games, which were played in the past and remain popular today, are presented: Rotten Egg, Hopscotch, Stealing the Land, Black Man, Ali Baba, Jump Rope, Dodgeball, Marbles, Is Your Bridge Strong Enough?, Black Cherries, and Abraham Has Seven Sons. Games typical of the modern era, influenced primarily by the emergence of contemporary technology, are also described. The next chapter focuses on wooden games, covering their role in the past and present, wood as a material for making games, types of wood, surface protection of wood, and wood as a primary material. The fifth chapter presents technical cultural heritage games based on their characteristics, including strategy games (chess, checkers, mill, backgammon), abstract games (dominoes, tangram), skill and precision games (pick-up sticks, bowling, kubb), and games with stones or tokens (mancala). In the empirical section, the thesis focuses on the interpretation of responses from a questionnaire and interviews. Based on the responses of participants, it can be concluded that games are a key factor in the development of social, motor, cognitive, and emotional abilities in preschool children. Wooden games, in particular, are evaluated as exceptionally important because they contribute to the holistic development of children, encourage greater engagement, imagination, and social skills, and help preserve tradition.
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