Browsing by Author "Hagelin, Henna"

The aim of this research is to examine the outlook of play in the new national early childhood education curriculum 2016. The outlook was found out by studying what is considered play in the curriculum. The aim was also to examine how the curriculum saw the role of the staff working with children in early childhood education in kindergarten from the viewpoint of play. This was examined by figuring out how the curriculum instructs the staff to advance play and help the children in the progress of play. How to use play as a method and content of education was also studied. According to previous studies about the outlook of play, the role of the adult has ranged from being seen as a disturbance to an enhancement for a child’s play. The study was carried out using a qualitative research method. The research material consisted of the new national curriculum for early childhood education, which was set by the national board of education to set directions for how early childhood education should be carried out nationwide. The curriculum was cut up into sections relevant to the subject. These sections were themed into even smaller groups according to the aims of the research. The used material was analyzed by theory based analysis. Therefore the analysis was guided by previous studies on the subject and the researcher’s prior information and experience on play. Play was seen as a characteristic way of learning for a child and as a crucial method in early childhood education in the new national curriculum of early childhood education. Play was seen as a significant action and an important way of operating for a child, creating happiness at the same time. The mission of the staff was to set requirements for play by having an impact on the arrangements of play and guiding play directly and indirectly. The staff also had an important task of observing and documenting play and discussing the meaning and significance of play with the guardians of the children. The staff was instructed to use play as a method of education and adding education to play.