ABSTRACT

['he purpose of this study was to investigate Teacher's Perception of Role of Play in :hildren Learning in ECD Centers Mundika Township Zone Busia District Kenya ,pecific Objectives of the study were to find out the available types of play and play naterials in ECD centers, to determine the teacher's perception about the role of play in !CD centers and to determine the role of teacher's in children play.The methods used for lata collection were questionnaires to the fifteen (15) ECD teachers who were randomly elected in fifteen (15) randomly selected schools and observation. The study was a urvey and data was analyzed using frequency tables, tallied in percentages and tabulated 1 chaiis. The findings revealed by 93.3% that the common gaines played were football, riving toy cai·s, hide and seek, playing with baby toys and jumping that is they were 1entioned by all the respondents, followed by rnnning. 40% of the respondents said that laying had a negative effect on children and 6.7% said it had no effect and 53.3% said it ad a positive effect. 66.7% agreed that they accompai1y children as they go to play rhile5 (33.3%) said they do not accompany them. 40% agreed that they discuss l1ildren's play with parents ffild 60% said they do not discuss children's play with arents. 93.3% mentioned that their role in children's play involves them accompanying 1em as they play, 86.7% mentioned guiding children as they play, 66.7% mentioned 1troducing new importffilt gaines ai1d making sure they are safe as they play, 53.3% tentioned discussing children's playing with parents and encourage children's playThe udy revealed that few schools had all the available playing materials and the most )lrunon games mentioned were football, driving toy cars, hide and seek, playing with ,by toys and jumping. The study concluded that play should be encouraged and nproved in ECD centers. Most of the teachers mentioned that they have to accompany uldren as they play, encourage children's playing, introduce new games and guide 1ildren as they play. The study recommended that Play and play materials should be one 0 the key topics taught to teachers so that they understand the importance of play illy.The community and pai·ents should be sensitized about the impo1iance of playing so at they also participate in children's playing activities. Schools, parents ai1d the 1vemment should come in full force to make sure that the schools are equipped with the icessary playing materials