Play And Its Effects On Early Childhood Education In The Selected Primary Schools, Mandera West District, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to investigate the Effectiveness of Play on Early

Childhood Development in ECDE Centers of Takaba Division, Mandera West District

Kenya The specific objectives of the study were to Determine the profile of the respondents in regards to: age, gender and academic level, to investigate the importance of playing in

regards to: academic achievement, problem solving, social and linguistic competence

Confidence building and Healthy development and to identify the hindrances to

children's playing

The methods used for data collection were questionnaires to the teachers and focus

group discussion with the parents. The findings indicated that playing had a positive

effect on the performance of early childhood children, playing helped children learn how

to solve problems, it also indicated that children who play learn to trust people and in

the process learn to be confident and indicated that lack of enough playing materials

was the major hindrance to children's play Government should make sure early

childhood centers have enough and strong playing materials before they are licensed.

The community and parents should be sensitized about the importance of playing so

that they also participate in children's playing activities . Schools should make sure they fulfill what is in the curriculum by involving children in playing activities.