Play Activity as the System of the Relations of Child with World

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of the paper is to reveal how a modern play influences child and predict the possibility of what the following generation will look like, because children’s play is closely interconnected with future adult activity.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of the problem is presented along with the following empirical methods: the questionnaire survey of parents; visually narrative approach, the main sense of which is to combine the use of pictures, graphic representations, and so on with the comments of authors to them; interviews with children according to the cards with the images of the different types of games; and the method of involved observation and direct-vision method.

Findings

Dominant type of games, intergenerational relationships, relationships of children with other children, the role of imaginative play, computer games, and toys are the questions the answers on which the research helped to receive.

At the conclusion, it was also found out how familization, institutionalization, individuation, and commercialization are reflected in the play and games of children.

Research limitations/implications

The research was conducted in Russia and the cultural specificity of the country was taken into account.

Practical implications

The paper brings the issue of play to the forefront in an effort to involve parents, educators, and administrative workers.

Social implications

The results of the research can be interesting for the scientists and practical workers in different countries, since in the century of globalization it is possible to observe the spreading and interosculation of play and games culture.

Originality/value

All conclusions are based on the answers of the children who are 4–7 years old.

Citation

Sibireva, M. (2014), "Play Activity as the System of the Relations of Child with World", Soul of Society: A Focus on the Lives of Children & Youth (Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Vol. 18), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 93-114. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1537-466120140000018001