THE ROLE OF PRESCHOOL TEACHERS IN ENHANCING IMAGINATIVE FREE-PLAY ACTIVITIES IN PRESCHOOLS

Abstract

The goal of this study is to investigate preschool teachers' roles in contributing towards Imaginative Free-Play activities in the preschool curriculum, to explore and comprehend preschool teachers' roles in the concept of creative teaching, and to comprehend preschool teachers' roles in Imaginative Free-Play activities to improve preschool children's learning and development processes. This exploratory study adopted a qualitative method of inquiry to provide an in-depth understanding of the area being investigated. Interviews and observations of four preschool teachers who were purposefully selected from a private preschool were used to collect data. Findings revealed that all preschool teachers in this study opinionated that they played multi-character roles in conducting Imaginative Free-Play activities and it is regarded as fundamental to the child's learning and creativity development. The teachers also fostered creative ideas to stimulate children’s ideas during the teaching and learning process. Therefore, preschool teachers play several important roles for children to think and act creatively including being problem solvers.