Abstract
Play is affected by the specific community and culture children live in. Through an explorative descriptive design this qualitative study explored the experiences of play of middle childhood children in a poor community in North West province. Eighteen participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data-collection methods included focus groups and collages. Findings illustrated different types of play, factors which influenced the children’s play, and the effects of poverty, resources, safety and supportive structures on play. It is recommended that professionals rendering services to children in this specific age group be aware of the games children prefer to play.
Highlights
AND PROBLEM STATEMENT The importance of play and recreation in the life of every child has long been acknowledged (Casby, 2003; Homeyer & Morrison, 2008). Ginsburg (2007) as well as Runcan, Petracovschi and Borca (2012) add that play is essential for all children to develop socially, cognitively and physically; it can increase the emotional wellbeing of children
The reality is that most children in South Africa face immense challenges such as poverty, which can affect these rights (Louw & Louw, 2014) as well as influence the way they play, as the play of children is influenced by their communities and culture (Ellis, 2011)
Different types of play were identified by the participants; these included physical, fantasy/imitation and rhythmic play
Summary
AND PROBLEM STATEMENT The importance of play and recreation in the life of every child has long been acknowledged (Casby, 2003; Homeyer & Morrison, 2008). Ginsburg (2007) as well as Runcan, Petracovschi and Borca (2012) add that play is essential for all children to develop socially, cognitively and physically; it can increase the emotional wellbeing of children. A study conducted by Bartie, Dunnell, Kaplan, Oosthuizen, Smith, Van Dyk, Cloete and Duvenage (2016) which determined play opportunities, activities, toys and the play environment in a low socio-economic community found that children in such a community did not need expensive toys to find play enticing and meaningful. Children in this low socio-economic community engaged in activities such as singing and dancing, and used familiar materials found in the environment for play (Bartie et al, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
