“Could that be Play?”: Exploring Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Play in Kindergarten

Abstract

Play is a developmentally appropriate practice for young children and enhances children’s holistic development. However, recent educational policies and pressure to focus on academic goals and high-stakes testing have resulted in an emphasis on teacher-directed instruction, minimizing play-based child directed experiences in kindergarten classrooms. Research indicates that pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions about teaching affect their future pedagogy in the classroom, therefore this phenomenological study aimed to explore PSTs’ perceptions of play in kindergarten as they reflected on early childhood play experiences and more recent student teaching experiences. Data were collected through interviews, artifact analysis, document analysis, and field notes. Interview responses were transcribed, interpreted, and coded into themes, aggregating the data into small categories of information. The data analysis revealed PSTs’ widespread conceptualizations of play, including misconceptions. The findings suggest the PSTs’ incomplete understanding of play may result in deprived authentic, valuable learning opportunities for children in kindergarten classrooms. The findings of this study should be considered by all educational stakeholders to ensure that PSTs develop a comprehensive understanding of play, identify the connection between play and learning, and understand how play supports all children’s development, resulting in integration of play in kindergarten classrooms.