Determinants of provision of play materials in preschool Namanga division Kajiado county

Abstract

Many governments recognize that early childhood development and education interventions are significant to the social and economic development of the country. Play materials provide children with a fairer and better start in life. Research indicates that children learn best in an environment which allows them to explore, discover, and play. As children play, they learn thus play materials are vital in the development of the child. It is also closely tied to the development of cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical behaviors. This study therefore seeks to establish the determinant of provision of play materials in pre-schools in Namanga division Kajiado county. The objectives of the study are to identify the school factors determining the provision of ECD play materials; to find the Parents factors influencing ECDplay materials provision; to review socio-cultural factors that influence',play materials provision in pre-school. The study will employ Reinforcement theory which was developed by behaviorist school of psychology. Skinner believes that behavior is a function of its consequences. The study will be carried out in Namanga Division of Kajiado County; its target population will be pre-school teachers and PTA members in selected schools in Namanga. Descriptive research design will be adopted for the study, this will enable collection of information on attitudes and options of pre-school head teacher and Parent members on the determinants of provision of play materials in pre-schools in Namanga Division. A sample size of 76 will be appropriate for the study; both questionnaires and focus group discussions will be sampled. Cluster sampling technique known as LQAS (Lot Quality Assurance Survey) will be used; this will be followed by simple random sampling technique. Both private and public schools will be target by the study. Descriptive analysis will be used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data will be analyzed by conducting a thematic analysis presentation which will then be done using charts, graphs, tables and quick impressionist summaries. The result of the study will be used by early childhood education developer to carry out effective planning for the general development of the child, this will enable ECD centres to focus on the needs of the child while coming up with play materials for these centres leading to improvement in play facilities for children leading to their cognitive and general development