Children›s play from the perspectives of children and their parents

Abstract

The problem of this research is focused on understanding how children and parents perceive children’s play and what roles play has in their lives. The aim was to discover the experience of play from the children’s perspective, who are often overlooked in comparison to adults in play research, and to compare this perspective with the parents’ views. The research was conducted as a case study on a sample of 28 children aged 4-5 and 14 mothers. Qualitative techniques, including interviews with children and parents, analysis of children’s drawings, and thematic analysis of the interviews, were used to gain deeper insights into the issue. Ethical aspects were significant, given the work with young children, and the research was conducted with parental consent and full disclosure. The most important findings show that children perceive play as a free activity filled with exploration and fun. Social interaction with peers is of vital importance, while parents view play as a key factor in the development of children’s social and motor skills. It was observed that adults, including parents, rarely engage in direct play with children, although they are present in the environment. Furthermore, the limited use of digital technologies in children’s play was noted. The research findings highlight the importance of greater adult involvement in play and a better understanding of the children’s perspective. This insight provides a foundation for further work on strengthening connections between children, parents, and educators through play, with the goal of creating a healthy and safe environment for children’s development.