Play In Early Childhood Research Articles

Four-year-old children's pretend play complexity during free play and story stem play and associations with maternal sensitivity.

Theory and research have linked pretend play in early childhood with the development of language and theory of mind. In 102 mother-child dyads at 4.5 years, we examined whether (1) introducing a story stem (a play narrative with socioemotional dilemmas) in a mother-child play context increases pretend play complexity compared with mother-child free play; and (2) maternal sensitivity is associated with pretend play complexity. Further, we explored whether the story stem increased child pretend play complexity more in dyads with mothers with low sensitivity compared with highly sensitive mothers. Sensitivity was coded using Coding Interactive Behavior and pretend play complexity with a global, integrated measure of the developmental level and quantity of play. Using generalized estimating equations, we found that pretend play complexity was positively associated with introducing a story stem and maternal sensitivity. Mixed methods ancova showed no significant interaction between play situation and maternal sensitivity. The findings stress the importance of maternal sensitivity and participation for play and how introducing a story stem may help promote child pretend play complexity.

How learning gardens foster well-being and development through the promotion of purposeful play in early childhood and beyond

ABSTRACT Play is essential to learning and development in the early childhood years. Young children experiment with new skills through play, which supports the development of new competencies and furthers cognitive development. Nontraditional learning spaces such as teaching and learning gardens provide excellent opportunities for children to engage in purposeful play that supports their well-being, cognitive and identity development, and promotes positive emotional experiences. Self-determination theory, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology offer useful frameworks for understanding how play in school gardens can improve motivation and promote meaningful learning in the early childhood years and beyond. Benefits reported in the literature of incorporating school gardens into teaching and learning experiences include opportunities for learners to satisfy the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, increased positive emotions, opportunities to renew cognitive and emotional energies, and tangible evidence of efforts linked to initiative and industry of students who care for plants and animals in the garden. Recommendations include long-term planning for funding school garden programs and supporting teachers in incorporating purposeful play in the garden into learning.

“So, We Can’t Play”: Limitations to Play at School in Periods of Educational Transition in Chile

Based on a reflection on the tensions between play, education, and learning in early childhood, this article aims to identify and analyze the factors that limit or negatively condition the possibilities for play at school during the transition between early childhood education and primary education in Chile. The study was conducted in four Chilean schools, with the transition levels of Chilean early childhood education (children aged 4 and 5) and the first two levels of primary education (children aged 6 and 7). Based on an ethnographic approach, we combined 22 ethnographic observation days spread over two consecutive years and 59 interviews of various types with children, educators, and parents. The results show structural and material limitations on school play that mainly affect children in primary education. Beyond, factors associated with routines, indications, and statements governing functioning and participation in this level tend to limit or prevent play, often considered a “non-legitimate” activity. Conclusions highlight the potentialities that children’s restricted or resisted play can present in terms of learning.

Learning through Play in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review

Playing is the leading activity in kindergarten education, a unique form of activity that conforms to the age characteristics of preschool children, and an important way to promote the overall and healthy development of children's bodies and minds. This research’s purpose was to carry out a literature systematic review on the learning through play in early childhood. This review was estimated on the steps pointed in the PRISMA criteria, as well as new research that merged different research designs. The publications for this study were adopted using two prestige databases: Scopus and Web of Science. This review’s four major themes were derived from a thematic analysis, which includes (1) research area, (2) language, and (3) timeline. Thus, the result of this study made several significant additions to the corpus of knowledge for practical reasons. The following findings display the significance of learning through the play method in early childhood: 1) Learning outcomes, 2) Pedagogical, 3) Professional development and 4) Parents’ beliefs. The learning outcomes of learning through the play method seem to be a key research topic, while parents’ belief is the lacking research topic among scholars. Finally, this paper is concluded with suggestions for future research directions and a call for more diverse research paradigms.

예비유아교사의 놀이중심 수업실연 경험에 대한 탐구

Objectives The purposes of this study were to explore the understanding of the Nuri Curriculum and experiences in the curriculum integration activities in the play-centered teaching demonstration of pre-service early childhood teachers. Methods The participants in this study were 20 pre-service early childhood teachers who attended early childhood teacher education courses at K University in Gyeonggi. The research data were collected three times and qualitatively analyzed the reflective journals on the experiences while performing play-centered activities in connection with the Nuri course in the teaching demonstration process. Results The results of the study are that first, pre-service early childhood teachers tried to understand the Nuri Curriculum for early childhood play-centered classes, to integrate it with the subject, and to find the educational meaning. Second, it was found that pre-service early childhood teachers, as supporters of early childhood play, organize and implement activities in the course of teaching demonstrations, develop reflective thinking skills, and improve their professionalism as cooperators for child-led play support. Conclusions Based on the results of this study, it was discussed how to improve the understanding of the Nuri Curriculum and the professionalism of the integrated curriculum.

Perspectives of play and play-based learning: What do adults think play is?

Adults, including early childhood teachers and caregivers (i.e., parents, carers, kinship members), have an important role in supporting young children’s learning through play in early childhood. However, little consideration has been given to the relationship between these significant adults’ perspectives of play and the play experiences of young children. Various conceptualisations of play and play-based learning influence the decisions adults make about the provision of play in early childhood. This can make it difficult to support adults in their understandings of the need for play in young children’s lives. We propose that more needs to be known about what significant adults think play is. This new knowledge would enhance professional learning and parent education programs in the early childhood education and care sector for increasing children’s opportunities to learn through play.

아동관찰 및 행동연구 관련 전공 서적 분석

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze major books related to child observation and behavioral research that help pre-service early childhood teacher to develop basic knowledge necessary for observing young children. Methods In this study, 20 major books related to child observation and behavior research published from August 2019 to August 2021 were analyzed. The selected major books were systematically analyzed according to subjects, and play observations. The collected analysis data were analyzed for frequency using an Excel program. Results In the subjects of major books, basic concepts such as concepts, necessity, and purpose were dealt with in relation to child observation. In addition, the subjects of the major books included understanding child observation, types of child observation, and methods of child observation. On the other hand, some major books did not cover understanding child behavior research, types of child behavior research, and methods of child behavior research. As a result of analyzing the contents of observation of play, the observation of young children was presented rather than observation of infants at the age of play. In the play space, all major books suggested observation of indoor free play. In the indoor play by interest area, both infants and young children were able to see dramatic play area and block play area. The play observation methods were mainly anecdotal records and timetable method. Conclusions As the importance of observation, including early childhood play, has grown in early childhood education institutions, this study was proposed a direction for the composition of major books related to child observation and behavioral research.

Importance of Toy Play in Special Education for young children: Perspectives and Approaches

Special needs children have different needs compared to typically growing children in various aspects of life. Their learning is hampered due to the difficulties they face in the normal way of learning. Special education practices have been adopting various play-based methods to address special needs children’s difficulties and needs. This research reviews toy play as a learning method and its importance in young special needs children’s education. The paper takes different perspectives on play and how it is characterized. A study of Toy Play taxonomies is also presented from the perspective of the learning needs of special needs children. Three prominent special education approaches are studied, and a synthesis of how to play fits into these approaches is presented. The future of toy play and further research areas is discussed. Early childhood play is a normal phenomenon that has much use in early intervention, early childhood special education, and early childhood education. Among these areas, there are still many disagreements about how to characterize and use play. These tensions jeopardize evaluation, action, and curriculum planning practices, as well as their links to science and practice. This essay examines play in early learning, early childhood special education, early childhood education, and how play is viewed and used in these settings.

Playing Minecraft: Young children’s postdigital play

New sociomaterial and performative directions in literacy research on digital technologies and play in early childhoods may complicate the established concept of digital play. This study contributes to this line of research by empirically expanding on the concept of the postdigital. In the study, postdigital refers to how both “digital” and “non-digital” agentic materialities are allowed to act messily in contemporary early childhood play, unsettling the notion of the digital as a discrete category. By analyzing a case of two five-year-old children playing Minecraft with wooden and synthetic blocks in a preschool common room within an agential realist framework, we find that a postdigital play practice is performed through playful, sociomaterial configurations of “joining,” “building,” and “not running out of things.”

Kindergarten Teachers’ Understanding of the Creative Play

This article describes the results of research on ECE teachers regarding their understanding of the creative play. Creative play in early childhood education is defined as play-based learning that combines creativity and higher-order thinking skills to stimulate aspects of development in the context of constructing children's attitudes, knowledge, and skills in this millennial era. This creative play-based learning is known as HOTS learning for early childhood. This research was carried out in a survey by filling out a Google Form which was distributed through several WhatsApp groups. 400 respondents contributed to sending answers and were analyzed using the Excel application to find out the tendency of ECE teachers to understand the creative play. The results of this study found that ECE teachers tend not to understand creative play in early childhood. They tend to design play activities that are separate, not intact, and still at the C2 level in the cognitive realm.

A Bibliographic Essay on Traditional Children's Games and Educational Play in Early Childhood

Oyun birçok disiplin tarafından inceleme konusu olmuş insanların farklı amaçlarla yaptığı genellikle eğlenceli bir faaliyettir. Bu çalışmada çocuk folkloru açısından büyük bir öneme sahip olan geleneksel çocuk oyunları ve erken çocuklukta sanal olmayan eğitici oyunlara ilişkin eser ve yazılar, lisansüstü tezler ile uygulamaya dönük çalışmalar sınıflandırmaya tabi tutularak bilim dünyasının kullanımına sunmak amaçlanmıştır. Böylelikle bir yandan ileride geleneksel çocuk oyunları ve eğitici oyun üzerine araştırma yapacaklara kaynak bulma noktasında katkı sağlarken, öte yandan bu alanlardaki çalışmaların daha çok hangi konularda yoğunlaştığını ve nelerin hâlâ eksik olduğu da ortaya konulabilecektir. Tarama modelinde yapılan çalışmada elde edilen veriler doküman analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Oyun konusunun geniş bir yelpazede ele alınma durumundan dolayı Erken çocukluk döneminde geleneksel çocuk oyunları ile serbest veya yapılandırılmış eğitsel oyunlar araştırmanın kapsamına dâhil edilmiştir. Geleneksel çocuk oyunları ve erken çocuklukta eğitici oyun ile ilgili kısa bir alan yazından sonra kitap, kitap bölümü, makale, tez ve bildiriler, farklı başlıklarda sunularak bibliyografya ortaya konmuştur

유아의 또래놀이 상호작용이 초등학교 취학 후 학업수행 능력에 미치는 영향

Objectives This study examines the effect of preschool children's peer play interactions and their performance at elementary school level academic performance with academic ability and school adjustment as dual mediating factors. Methods For this purpose, data from the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education(KICCE)’s seventh (2014), eighth (2015), and tenth (2017) Panel Study on Korean Children(PSKC) was used. Data from a total of 438 children was analyzed using Process Marco(Model 6). Results First, it was found that preschool children’s peer play interaction mediates their academic ability and that it significantly affects the academic performance when they are 3rd graders in elementary school. Second, the preschool children’s peer play interaction had a significant effect on the academic performance when they are 3rd graders which was mediated by school adjustment during their first year in school. Third, the preschool children’s peer play interaction was found to have a significant effect on the academic performance when they are in 3rd grade which was in turn mediated by the academic ability and the school adjustment during first grade. Conclusions This suggests that preschool children's experiences of peer play interaction can have a positive effect on their elementary school life. In addition, this study is meaningful in that it reexamined the value of play in early childhood and the meaning of interaction with peers.

The Silent Path towards Medical Apartheid within STEM Education: An Evolving National Pedagogy of Poverty through the Absenting of STEM-Based Play in Early Childhood

STEM is notoriously uninviting to wide swaths of the population [...]

Caring about and with Imaginary Characters: Early Childhood Playworlds as Sites for Social Sustainability

We investigate the concept of care in adult-child joint play through two cases that illustrate ways in which the development of care relations among researchers, pedagogues, and children—and the imaginary characters they create through their joint play—shape and sustain early childhood education and care research and practice. We focus on the ways that early childhood education and care pedagogues’ approaches to care provide insights into practices of social sustainability, specifically social inclusion. The cases we present are drawn from recent studies of early childhood play. The studies belong to a corpus of international research projects that are researcher-teacher collaborations. These studies explore a unique form of adult-child joint imaginary play known as playworlds. Playworlds are based on cultural historical theories of development and art, Gunilla Lindqvist’s studies of playworlds, and local theory and practice of early childhood education and care. Our analyses of playworlds are based, in part, on Winnicott’s concept of transitional objects. The two cases are drawn from ECEC playworlds in Finland and the US. Each exemplifies how playworlds, as forms of participatory design research, make social sustainability possible. Furthermore, these cases highlight how, by working with the boundaries between and moving between real and imagined, the participants are able to develop new ways of being that are radically inclusive. We argue that they do so by facilitating and maintaining the development of care relations among researchers, teachers, children, and, importantly, imaginary characters, in ways that create what we call transitional subjects. We conclude that social sustainability, like care, should be conceived of as an ecology of caring practices.

Strategi Pembelajaran Matematika Mengenal Nilai dan Angka Melalui Bermain dan Benda-Benda Konkret pada Anak Usia Dini

Mathematics is one of the cognitive aspects that must be introduced to children at an early age to achieve a standard of cognitive development called the Child Development Achievement Level Standard (STPPA) as stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 137 of 2014. One of the basic learning Mathematics is a child recognizes the concept of numbers and understands numbers. So that children's understanding is in accordance with the concept, children must learn mathematics from concrete objects and by playing. the introduction of values ​​and numbers in children aged 2-8 years children need concrete objects, because at this age, children recognize concepts using symbols. This study aims to find a strategy for learning mathematics to recognize values ​​and numbers through play and concrete objects in early childhood. This type of research is descriptive qualitative with literature study method. As for the results of the research, the strategies that can be used in introducing children to numbers through play and concrete objects are: (1) Singing; (2) Flannel Board Media; (3) Calendar Games; (4) Number Card; (5) Counting Things in Daily Life; (6) Dice; (7) Write Numbers (8) Number Fishing Media; (9) Snakes and Ladders Game; (10); Congklak Game; (11) Finger Method.

Digital games and digital play in early childhood: a cultural-historical approach

ABSTRACT A body of research that investigates the social, cognitive and emotional effects of digital technologies on the development of children reports that digital technologies are limiting activities that connect children with people. On the other hand, there is a great amount of research on the positive role of digital play. However, digital games per se and their influence on young children’s development remain less researched. The role of digital play and digital games in the development of young children is discussed within the framework of Vygotsky’s cultural-historical conception. This article proposes a distinction between digital play (DP) and digital game (DG) as a cultural tool connected to the main components of play – imaginary situations, play rules and play actions. A ‘normative situation’, an important component of play that links play rules, roles and play actions, is introduced as a reliable criterion for assessing the developing potential of DGs.

Concentration of Children's Learning in Motor-Sensory Play Management Development Framework

In growing a child's concentration level, an appropriate method is needed to stimulate more stable focus and concentration. This study aims to examine efforts to increase children's learning concentration by managing sensory-motor play in early childhood, which is carried out at an institution under the auspices of the Nusus Salam Foundation, namely RA Nurus Salam. The research method uses a qualitative case study approach. To get an idea of the Efforts to Increase Children's Learning Concentration Through Sensory Motor Play Management, the researcher went directly to the institution and observed the RA Nurus Salam institution by interviewing the principal and three teachers. The results showed that; The RA Nurus Salam institution uses the management of sensory-motor play to stimulate the increase in children's learning concentration and the involvement of teachers' strategies in the direction of sensory-motor play using; first, lesson planning. Second, implementation of learning design, and third, evaluation. The implication is that children's concentration and focus are more stable when carrying out activities with sensory-motor management.

Early Childhood Play: A Medium for Holistic Development

Understanding the importance of play in the overall development of children, the recent policy decisions and Pre-School Curriculum developed by NCERT recommend play based learning during the period. The author recommends for using play themes and play materials from immediate socio-cultural environment in our pre-schools for the optimum development of children.

Developmental Changes in Children’s Object Insertions during Play

ABSTRACT Spatial play in early childhood is associated with a variety of spatial and cognitive skills. However, these associations are often derived from studies in which different tasks are used across different age ranges, leaving open the question of how children’s natural behaviors during spatial play develop from infancy into the early preschool years. We used an open-ended spatial play task to establish typically developing children’s behaviors from 12 to 48 months (N = 66, 36 girls). Specifically, we observed young children’s insertions into a commercially available shape sorter that included six geometric solids with corresponding apertures. Approaches to this task changed with age. Younger children primarily inserted solids into the large top opening, a strategy that did not require spatial alignment for success. Between 24 and 30 months, children shifted to inserting solids into their corresponding side openings, a more spatially and motorically difficult strategy that required aligning solids to their appropriate apertures. This pattern suggests that at 24 months, children begin to adopt more sophisticated strategies for this motor problem-solving task. Older children also completed a higher proportion of successful insertions compared to younger participants, and children successfully inserted rotationally symmetrical shapes (e.g., circle) at younger ages than rotationally asymmetrical shapes (e.g., triangle). This study represents an important first step in providing a detailed baseline of children’s natural play behaviors over a wide developmental period that can be used to inform how spatial and cognitive systems contribute to spatial play.

Perceptions among Hong Kong parents on Play in Early Childhood: A Qualitative Study

Angela F.Y. Siu;Chrysa P.C. Keung