“Diversity: the art of thinking independently together” (Malcolm Forbes)
Goal 2 ~ Artifact 2C
ECED 585E 61A: Advanced Seminar on Research in Early Childhood Education: Sociocultural Perspectives on Early Childhood Education (Instructor: Dr. Iris Berger)
Assignment 3: Final Paper
Many educators, parents, academic researchers and advocates for children’s rights agree that play is vital for young children. However, how do we know what constitutes play? Although play is considered to be a universal or desirable phenomenon of childhood, there are variations in meaning, form, and context. The concept of play is socially constructed and varies based on cultural norms, values, and beliefs. In addition, ideas and actions of play are formed by a variety of dynamic social, cultural, and political elements that are interconnected and constantly changing.
While learning about sociocultural theories of early childhood education, I realized that I would like to explore social and cultural constructions, components, and implications of free play, in the Kindergarten classroom. This paper explores sociocultural approaches to understanding free-play and shares how free-play can be used to honour the diversities and complexities of children’s unique contexts, interests, and needs.
Read Online: Sociocultural Approaches to Free Play in Kindergarten: Understanding Play through Children and Children through Play
References
Forbes, M. (n.d). Retrieved March 1, 2021, from https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/
malcolm_forbes_151513