My Personal Research Journey

In my Research Stimulation, the topic that I chose was 

“Play as an element of early childhood development – is it really important?” 

This topic may seem trite and repetitive in the face of the mass of information that is already available.  However, I am of the view that it is a topic that one cannot ignore or else the battle against academics will be lost.  Play cannot just be viewed by itself and separate from learning and the world of academia.  Play must be viewed as an integral part of a child’s learning process and as one of the varied building blocks that shape and form wholesome children.

My interest in the area of play has arisen from my on-going studies over the past year.  As a novice in the field of early childhood education, I was not aware that there was so much literature on the subject of play.  In addition, I did not realise that the mere fact of allowing children to play in schools was the subject of much debate and that schools were being asked to reduce their recess time.  In my not so distant past when I was young, I remember that play was encouraged.  It was natural and children were expected to play.  Nowadays, play has lost its primacy to activities that attempt to mimic play but are not the real thing, example, computer games and television.  

However, one can then ask “What is Play?”  Some may argue that playing a computer game is play.  Others may say that running outside and climbing a tree is play.  This is my main sub-topic in my Research Stimulation – an attempt to formulate a definition that can truly reflect the several aspects and features of play.   

My stimulation process was challenging but in an enjoyable way as I sought out a topic that had meaning.  I also wanted to feature an area in early childhood education that would be applicable in the Jamaican scenario where more emphasis is now being placed on academics.  In Jamaica, we always say "Jamaica, no problem".   This is part of our laid back personality.  But I am of the view that it will indeed be a problem if we sacrifice our children's play opportunities and the resultant good for book worms who memorize and cannot socialise and relate to each other.

For those who read my blog, I ask for your continued support in My Venture Into Early Childhood Studies.  If you have resources other than those listed in My Collection to the right hand side of my Blog, please feel free to let me know.  Also, I always welcome your advice and pointers in relation to my Research topic.