Abstract
Background
Play provides opportunities for children to develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. it also allows children to enhance physical health as well as helping them to adjust to school settings. This adjustment includes: increased engagement, learning readiness and improved problem-solving skills. Play also provides a platform to forge connections with peers, overcome challenges and negotiate with others. The relevance of play for overall wellbeing of children is clearly important and merits further investigation.
Methods
The present study aimed to examine how parents conceptualise the importance of play and the quality of children's play experiences from past to present. Eight parents were interviewed about play memories of their own childhood and about play patterns of their children. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.
Findings
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was them conducted and five overarching themes identified: 'I'm such a worry wart' (Protection); 'You get hooked on it' (Addiction); 'But that's all lost' (Loss of Identity); 'My daughter could be suicidal' (Inherent Factors); and 'But it's not the play I understand' (Ignorance). The findings show that parents are aware of the importance of play for their children's healthy development and wellbeing. Parents also identified several crucial factors that impede play (i.e., lack of safe outdoor space). More importantly, these factors and the quality of play experiences seem to have changed over time.
Discussion
The implications of these findings are discussed in relationship to education and children's social and emotional development.
Play provides opportunities for children to develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. it also allows children to enhance physical health as well as helping them to adjust to school settings. This adjustment includes: increased engagement, learning readiness and improved problem-solving skills. Play also provides a platform to forge connections with peers, overcome challenges and negotiate with others. The relevance of play for overall wellbeing of children is clearly important and merits further investigation.
Methods
The present study aimed to examine how parents conceptualise the importance of play and the quality of children's play experiences from past to present. Eight parents were interviewed about play memories of their own childhood and about play patterns of their children. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.
Findings
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was them conducted and five overarching themes identified: 'I'm such a worry wart' (Protection); 'You get hooked on it' (Addiction); 'But that's all lost' (Loss of Identity); 'My daughter could be suicidal' (Inherent Factors); and 'But it's not the play I understand' (Ignorance). The findings show that parents are aware of the importance of play for their children's healthy development and wellbeing. Parents also identified several crucial factors that impede play (i.e., lack of safe outdoor space). More importantly, these factors and the quality of play experiences seem to have changed over time.
Discussion
The implications of these findings are discussed in relationship to education and children's social and emotional development.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 14 Sept 2016 |
| Event | The British Psychological Society Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference 2016 - Hilton Hotel, Belfast, United Kingdom Duration: 14 Sept 2016 → 16 Sept 2016 https://www1.bps.org.uk/networks-and-communities/member-microsite/developmental-psychology-section/previous-conferences |
Conference
| Conference | The British Psychological Society Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference 2016 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Belfast |
| Period | 14/09/16 → 16/09/16 |
| Internet address |
