Play “makes the world happy”: Children’s voices about play in the world
Background: Play is recognised across the globe as important to children’s well-being and development. In the early years, play is understood as a valuable learning tool with which children develop skills that support their engagement in the world throughout their lives. Children’s perspectives about play are important, yet their voices are often underrepresented in research. Drawing offers one way to support children to express their lived experience without relying on language, reducing barriers related to age, ability, and linguistic or cultural background.
Aim: To explore children’s understandings of why play is good for the world and to examine if/how children represent relationships and connections through their drawings of play.
Method/approach: During the 2024 Early Childhood Voices Conference, children were invited to create a drawing or artwork of play. A total of 83 drawings were received from children aged between 1 and 12 years, representing 10 different countries. Parental consent and children’s assent were gained; the artworks were digitally submitted to the Children Draw Playing Global Online Gallery (https://earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains/early-childhood-voices-conference-2024/children-draw-playing/).This research was approved by the Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee.
Results/findings: A conventional content analysis was conducted on children’s text-based responses to the question “Why is play good for the world?”; 80.7% (n=67) of children answered the question. A small number of children (n=11) listed more than one factor about why play was good for the world. For example, one child said, “Because you can learn great things and you can try new things and it’s really fun.” Six themes regarding aspects of play that children thought were good for the world were identified.
Conclusion: This research contributes to a deeper understanding of children’s lived experience of play, why it is an important part of their everyday lives, and what play can offer the world.
Implications for children and families: When children play, they build strong relationships and meaningful connections through the time they spend together and the experiences they share. Play is valuable, and it deserves time and space.
Implications for practitioners: Practitioner recognition of the importance of play is one factor that can support the creation of meaningful play experiences that promote social connection, inclusion, and well-being.
Funding: This research was supported by Charles Sturt University’s Children’s Voices Centre
Keywords: play, children’s voices, early childhood, relationships
This presentation relates to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: