This paper attempts to discuss how teachers understand the concept and the role of play in early childhood curriculum in response to the education reform initiated by the Hong Kong Government. Collaboration action research was conducted with 18 teachers in two pre-schools for a period of two years. It was found that the project teachers have different views on work and play as the goal of educating children. To facilitate analysis of data, the researcher has classified play and work into different categories of learning activity. The research revealed that what is considered as play and work depends on the extent to which the child feels free to follow his/her own desire or the extent to which this self is subordinated to the authority of the teacher. As the boundary between play and work becomes blurred, early childhood educators should rethink the role of play and work in early childhood curriculum and pedagogy.[Copyright © 2008 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.]
