ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to detennine impact of play on academic perfonnance of early childhood education in Nyageita Zone, Nyamira North District, Kenya. The research objectives were; to investigate the common types of play, to detennine the factors that hinder children's play to detennine the impact of play on academic perfonnance of early childhood education and to determine the importance of play on early childhood development in Nyageita Zone, Nyamira North District, Kenya. The methods used for data collection were questionnaires to both the teachers and learners. The study revealed that play helps the children perform well in class, it makes the children like the school enviromnent, children who play do not find difficulties in solving problems and play improves children's performance in the later years The study revealed that the most commonly games mentioned were football and net ball, hide and seek, running and jumping, riding bicycles and driving toy cars and swinging parallel play, followed by collaborative play, negotiating play. The study revealed that the factors hindering children's play were poverty and gender inequality. The study revealed that play makes muscular development and control of large muscles, play helps the children to develop the language skills and through play children's explore the word around them of play fully. Govenunent should make sure that 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. Play and play materials should be one of the key topics taught to teachers so that they understand the importance of play fully.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................... i

Approval ............................................................................................................................ ii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. iii

Acknowledgment ............................................................................................................. iv

Acronyms ........................................................................................................................... v

Table of contents .............................................................................................................. vi

List of tables ................................................................................................................... viii

List of figures ................................................................................................................... ix

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... x

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. !

1.0 Background to the study .............................................................................................. !

1.2 Statement of the problem ............................................................................................. 2

1.3 Objectives of the study ................................................................................................. 2

1.4 Research Questions ................................................................................................ 2

1.5. Scope of the study ....................................................................................................... 2

1.6 Significance of the study ............................................................................................. 2

CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................. .4

2.0. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................... .4

2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 4

2.2. Impact of play on academic perfonnance of early childhood education ................... .4

2.3. Common types of play ................................................................................................ 5

2. 4. Factors that hinder children's play ............................................................................. 7

2.5. Importance of play on early childhood development.. ................................................ ?

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................ 9

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................... 9

3.0. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 9

3.1. Research Design .......................................................................................................... 9

3.2. Study area .................................................................................................................... 9

3.3. Study population ......................................................................................................... 9

3.4. Sample size and sampling technique ........................................................................... 9

3.5. Research instruments .................................................................................................. 9

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3 .5 .1 Reliability of instruments .................................................................................... 15

3 .6. Data collection procedure ..................................................................................... 10

3.7. Data analysis ........................................................................................................ 10

CHAPTER FOUR ...................................................................................................... 11

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS ........................................................... 11

4.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 11

4.1. Profile of the respondents ..................................................................................... 11

4.2 Impact of play on the academic performance of early childhood ............................ 13

4.3 Common types of play ........................................................................................... 16

4.4 Factors hindering children's play ........................................................................... 18

CHAPTER FIVE ......................................................................................................... 24

DISCUSSION. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................. 24

5.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 24

5.1 Summary ........................................................................................................ 38

5. 2. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 25

5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................................. 25

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 26

Appendix I: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TEACHERS .................................................... 27

Appendix II: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR LEARNERS ................................................... 29