Relationship between Early Childhood Play Activities and Holistic Development of the Learner in Pre-Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated relationship between early childhood play activities and holistic child development in Kiambu County, Kenya. It was conducted on a sample of 300 participants’ comprising 150 teachers and 150 managers of pre-school institutions. Questionnaire and interview guides for managers and teachers were the main instruments used to collect data. Pretesting of the questionnaires yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.752 and 0.692 for teachers and managers respectively. Quantitative data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and also by using narrative technique. Majority (88%) of the pre-school teachers were female, and youth within the age group of 21- 25 years age. The pre-school teachers and managers considered lecture method and child- play activities important in contributing to the holistic development of the child at pre-school level. There was a significant relationship between perceptions of pre-school teachers and managers on influence of early childhood play activities on holistic development in terms of emotional, motor-physical and social skills in children.