Factors affecting children's play in urban Kenya

Abstract

Play also is defmed as pleasurable activity that children engage in for its own sake (Santrock and Yusse 1992). Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children. Despite the benefits derived from play, time for free play has been markedly redu.ced for some children and this has resulted to diminish of play activities. Variety of factors that have reduced play from observations, include increased attention to academics and enrichment activities at the expense of free child­ centered play, insecurity, technological advancement, lack of playgrounds; since most of the schools do not have playgrounds and also loss of playgrounds to land grabbers, congested streets, insufficient time for children to play free especially those who have to carry out household chores, changes in family structure like individualism, hurried lifestyle, lack of appreciation of the value of play by most adults and this of course includes the government.

The study will tend to establish the undermining factors of children's play in urban society and how they can be overcome as well as parent’s contribution to play, since play offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children. Both qualitative and quantitative approach will be employed. Qualitative approach involving use of observation will be used while quantitative approach involving use of questionnaires which will be filled by both parents and children in class 6, 7 and 8 will be used to carry out the study.

The state authority should consider putting in place measures that enhance the quality of the available playgrounds by ensuring that they are safe, equipped with proper facilities