The article discusses child development in the context of child life in day care. It traces children's development of an independent, autonomous life and their creation of culture where play is a central feature. The culture produced by the children is analysed on the basis of classical notions of culture. Furthermore the emergence and development of play in the life of the child is traced and the particular way of thinking represented in play is analysed: thinking related to creating drama with pretend figures on a "stage." The potentials for learning inherent in this particular way of thinking are discussed with reference to the child's learning in the context of early instruction. (Contains 5 figures and 1 note.)