Abstract

This study explores parents' views on the importance of free play when it pertains to what their children do after school. By studying this information, teachers, childcare providers, and administrators can use these perceptions in an attempt to discover why children are no longer engaging in unstructured play as frequently as they once were. Through the responses of 59 parents who participate in a large afterschool program, this study revealed that although 81% of parents ranked free play as valued in their own childhoods, free play ranked low in terms of parents' acknowledgement of play in after school programs of their own children. Future research might focus on how best to inform parents of the benefits of unstructured play and how to effectively incorporate unstructured or free play into the daily schedule of after school programs.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2013

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Puig, Enrique A.

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Education

Degree Program

Elementary Education

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Education; Education -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

PDF

Identifier

CFH0004447

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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