Challenges to Preschool Age Children´s Free Play

Abstract

The research study surveys if there are over-organized educational programmes in kindergartens, which could hinder free play of children and communication of teachers with parents during every day education. The research aim is to find out persisting organizational forms, communication and educational methods for kindergarten children and to reveal causes which impede the creation of suitable conditions in preschool education for greater use of free game creation of children and its appreciation both by teachers and parents. The research was based on a quantitative comparative survey where a structured questionnaire for teachers and parents of children in kindergartens was created. Obtained figures and data from the measurement have been processed by descriptive methods and correlations and compared in both groups of respondents – teachers and parents. The results showed the existence of excessive organization of preschool educational programmes and a persistent offer of controlled club activities, which hinders the greater realization of children free (spontaneous, independent) games. The comparison points out to significant results, which signal parents’ interest in communication with school. However, kindergartens’ options are still limited. The research pointed to the underestimation of free play in preschool education according to persistently greater representation of managed activities. Research comparison of both groups has brought impulses for change in preschool education towards more intense communication of teachers with parents. The research can support cooperation and appreciate free play as an indispensable activity of preschool children.

Keywords: Gameschildrenpreschool educationpedagogueresearch

Introduction

Nowadays there is great pressure on people´s performance in society being measured according to standardised codes which is endangering free play in kindergartens. Its importance in pre-school education is not appreciated sufficiently enough, despite the fact that there is a lot information available which is underscores the significant importance of a child´s play at pre-school age. We can ask why it is so; Is it due to the hectic times we live in? Is it due the current lifestyle with the emphasis on acceleration? Is it due to the pressure on standardised educational outcomes? The famous educator, John Amos Comenius, pointed out, that children´s play/game is “a splendid preparation to serious issues which is true even today. When we ask other questions: Do children have enough time to play as they like in kindergartens? Are there sufficient conditions created for free spontaneous play? According to experience and current findings, it is indeed necessary to support more individual spontaneous children´s play in kindergartens. This is because there are still kindergartens, where children have no time to play as freely as they like. This is due to the lack of appreciation of children´s play in pre-school education.

Problem Statement

It is a shame, that there are still some kindergartens which persist in the old tracks in terms of organization and offer of controlled activities for children, while being afraid to change the strategy and communication with parents, apparently for fear, parents would lose interest in their kindergarten. In terms of communication with parents, the teachers are not persuasive and open, so that they could supress the free play of children in favour of leisure and club activities. Direct and open communication with parents is expected in kindergartens.

From the ideas and raised issues, this paper attempts to identify the gaps and pitfalls to support and appreciate children’s free play in kindergartens and among parents.

Research Questions

This research attempts to uncover the answers to the following questions:

• How are conditions created for free play in kindergartens?

• How do parents communicate with a kindergarten and what forms of communication do they prefer?

Purpose of Study

This research project was undertaken to find out if sufficient attention was being given to free spontaneous games of children or whether teachers’ controlled activities with children still persist.

Furthermore, it focused on discovering the causes which prevent from a greater appreciation of free games in kindergartens and warns about options of effective communication with parents. The goals of the research were to reveal the causes which prevent the creation of suitable conditions for free play in kindergartens and identify the most suitable possibilities of communication between parents and the school.

Research Methods

Findings

To find out whether children had enough time or space to play in kindergarten, the teachers were asked what organizational form they used the most. Figure 1 shows the results.

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The most frequent organizational underestimated forms used was the controlled activity. Another favourite organizational form is represented by hobbies/leisure activities. And, last but not least, the community circle is used quite a lot, and could be used within all above mentioned organizational forms. Nevertheless, the survey showed that there is not enough time for spontaneous free games of children in kindergartens.

Furthermore, this research was focused on identifying the most suitable possibilities of kindergarten communication with parents.

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Figure 2 shows forms of communication with kindergarten parents prefer. Personal contact with a teacher was scored the highest, followed by communication via an e-mail. Communication via telephone was not stated by any respondents.

Another interesting finding was revealed in terms of how parents find out about current events in kindergarten.

From Table 01 it is clear that the most information (51.94%) about the current events is gained from the kindergarten notice-boards. A surprising fact is that parents use webpage information at minimum of 11.69%. Based on these results, it is necessary to consider the importance of notice-boards in kindergarten premises and pay attention to the most current events and important information from the children´s kindergarten lives.

At the same time, the need of a direct contact with a teacher (19.48%) or to obtain information by a direct contact was rated second in terms of importance, which signals its importance for frequent meetings with teachers and parents.

The attention of the research is the answer to the question whether the kindergarten organizes any events for parents with children who attend the school.

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Figure 3 shows participants´ answers to the question whether the kindergarten where their children attend organizes any events together for parents and children. Only about half of the respondents (56%) agreed that the kindergarten organizes any events together for parents and children. A surprising number (28%) stated that their kindergarten rarely organized while 16% stated that the kindergarten does not organize any events for parents and children at all.

It is important to organize these events in order to develop closer relationships between a kindergarten and parents, but also among parents and children.

7. Conclusion

This study shows that kindergartens are a subject to social and competitive pressure of growing prestige. Furthermore, kindergartens are considered to be one of the determining criteria for the quality of pre-school education. The time has come to the point to discuss with parents more about dominant activities, which is represented by a play in pre-school education and to emphasize its significance at preschool age. It is necessary to explain that excessive organization of the children’s day in kindergarten is negative for children’s development. Hence, the research question of ‘How are conditions created for free play in kindergartens?’ can be answered that very little is done to create conditions for free play in kindergartens. The results show that controlled activities dominate the kindergarten day. If this is so, then free play with all its positive educational outcomes are truly endangered. Children’s development will be negatively affected by this. The research question of ‘How do parents communicate with a kindergarten and what forms of communication do they prefer?’ shows that parents do communicate with the kindergarten in traditional ways such as looking at the notice board but many have stated that face to face contact with the teacher is also important.

It is necessary to motive parents as well as engage them in the activities and games with their children in kindergarten, hence, allowing them to appreciate and reflect that playing is a useful and irreplaceable preparation for their children for life. The photo enclosed presents a successful meeting of children, parents and teachers in engaging the children in playful activities, which are implemented in some kindergartens and has received positive feedback in the development of a child-parent relationship.

Kindergartens thus gain a natural predilection, image, appreciation of pre-school education and support for professionalism of preschool educators.

All in all, a photo (Figure 04 ) from a joint collaboration of children, parents and teachers during the topic of “Sailors” shows an inspiration for a successful cooperation of the kindergarten and the family.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was supported by the Specific Research of the Faculty of Education of the University of Hradec Králové 2018, number 2105, entitled: Creativity of Preschool Pedagogues.

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