AbstractGroup processes within the free play- in a socialpsychology perspective In our socialpsychology study we have demonstrated how children’s free play is by observing 2-5 years old children in preschool. We have also interviewed two preschool teachers. The major subject in this study is how children’s group processes expresses in their free play. The purposes with this social psychological study have been to get a major insight of how the group processes looks like from a gender and structure perspective. We have with some help from psychology and social theories described the consequence and the importance in children’s free play. We have also described how hierarchy, interaction, alienation and roles are important and which meaning they have. The free play offers children free mind, independence and it even promotes development. / AbstraktI vår socialpsykologiska studie har vi förevisat vad som sker inom barns fria lek, vi har observerat barn i åldrarna 2-5 på en förskola inom Halmstad Kommun. Vi har även intervjuat två förskolelärare inom samma verksamhet. Genom vår studie har vi velat påvisa de olika grupprocesserna som utspelas hos barn inom den fria leken. Syftet med föreliggande studie är att få en inblick om hur de olika grupprocesserna ser ut inom barns fria lek bl.a. utifrån genus och ur ett strukturerat perspektiv. Vi har med hjälp av psykologiska och sociologiska teorier beskrivit konsekvenserna och de viktiga beståndsdelarna inom barns fria lek. Vi har även tagit upp hur betydelsefull makthierarki, samspel, utanförskap samt rolltagande är inom den fria leken. Den fria leken erbjuder ett fritt tänkande för barnen, självständighet men framförallt erbjuder den en enorm utveckling och tillväxt hos barnet.

Den fria leken på förskolan är ett ämne som vi upplever har diskuterats mycket på senare tid. Studiens utgångspunkt har varit sex förskollärares uppfattningar om den fria lekens betydelse på förskolan. Metoden som använts har varit kvalitativ och utgått från öppna och ostrukturerade intervjuer med förskollärare på sex olika förskolor, i en kommun i Västra Götalands län. Genom intervjuerna har vi studerat på vilket sätt den fria leken används i verksamheten samt hur stort utrymme den får i relation till styrda aktiviteter. Vi har även undersökt vilken roll förskollärare har i leken samt vilka positiva effekter den har. Resultatet av studien visar att förskollärarna ser fri lek som en viktig del i förskoleverksamheten då den utvecklar många förmågor hos barnen, vilket även många författare belyser. De upplever dock att det är svårt att få tiden att räcka till då de har som åsikt att även de styrda aktiviteterna är betydelsefulla för barnen och verksamheten. Förskollärarna är av olika åsikter vad gäller hur de ska agera då barnen leker, några anser att de vuxna ska vara delaktiga medan andra menar att barnen bör få leka ostört. Studien tar även upp hur förskollärarna upplever föräldrars syn på fri lek samt vikten av att kunna motivera för föräldrar vad den fria leken har för betydelse. / The free play at preschool is a topic that we feel has been much discussed recently. Starting point for the study was the six preschool teachers' perceptions of the importance of free play in preschool. The method used has been qualitative and assumed open and unstructured interviews with preschool teachers in six different preschools, in a municipality in Västra Götalands län, Sweden. Through interviews, we have studied the manner in which free play is used in preschool and how much space it gets in relation to controlled activities. We examined the preschool teachers’ role in the play and its positive impact. The results of this study show that preschool teachers see free play as an important part in early childhood education as it develops many abilities of children, as many authors highlight. They feel that it is difficult to make time enough when they have the opinion that even the controlled activities are important for children and preschool. Early childhood educators are in different opinions regarding how to act when children play, some believe that the adults should be involved while others believe that children should play undisturbed. The study also discusses how preschool teachers perceive parents' views on free play and the importance of being able to explain to parents what the play means for the children.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka nyanlända barns användande av icke-verbal kommunikation när de leker fritt, samt om det är någon skillnad när en pedagog är närvarande. Det studeras också i vilka karaktäristiska lekar de nyanlända barnen använder sin icke-verbala kommunikation mest. Studien är kvalitativ och undersökningen är utförd genom observationer, som utfördes under två dagars tid. Observationerna har utförts på en mångkulturell förskola där fokus har varit på fri lek, den proximala utvecklingszonen, pedagogiska atmosfärer och icke-verbal kommunikation. Resultaten visar att de nyanlända barnen använder sig av icke-verbala kommunikationsformer när de leker med varandra, detta tydliggörs i fyra karaktäristiska lekar som beskrivs i resultatdelen. Vidare framgår det av studien att det finns skillnader i barnens kommunikationsstrategier när det finns pedagogiskt stöd i leken gentemot när barnen leker utan pedagogers stöd. / The purpose of this study is to examine the newly arrived children's use of non -verbal communication when they are playing freely, and if there is any difference when a preschool teacher is present. It is also being studied in which characteristic games the newly arrived children use their non - verbal communication the most. The study is qualitative and the study is performed through observations. The observations have been conducted in a multicultural preschool where the focus has been at free play, the proximal development zone, educational atmospheres and non-verbal communication . The results show that the newly arrived children use non-verbal forms of communication when playing with each other , this is made clear in the four characteristic games described in the results section of this study. Furthermore , it appears from the study that there are differences in the children's communication strategies when there are educational support in children’s play compared to when they play and do not have educator’s support.

As a leisure time pedagogue I find it hard to have an insight into what children are playing, and how they play when it comes to free play. My experience is that in some free play, conflicts arise, which reveal hierarchies and power structures containing violations, whereas other occasions of free play suddenly come to an end as the pedagogue interferes. In this essay I investigate my responsibility as a leisure time pedagogue during children´s free play, based on two differing play situations. I also investigate the play as a phenomenon by looking into previous research on children’s play and development psychology. By reflecting on the two play situations I can further understand how to act in a more supportive way during the children´s free play, and how I should relate to the free play I have in my essay found that the free play does not handle itself and that the leisure time pedagogue´s responsibility in the free play is to be present and observe when children are playing. In that way I can get an insight into the world of the children and I can give my support when the game becomes problematic or I can back away when I notice that I have disturb a free play that works well.

Free play is a term that often common in educational activities. The definition of the term is difficult, but it is about the children themselves decides the scope, content and process in their play. On an after-school, this may mean that it is the children are given the opportunity to freely choose their own activity in the leisure constraints. Free play can be an alternative to other, more controlled activities where adults control framework. The purpose of this study is to investigate the variations in how some children perceive and experience the phenomenon of free play in the after-school and how the children perceive the teacher´s role in the free game. The study empirical data is limited to a class, in a department in an after-school center in the inner suburbs of Stockholm. School centers and schools are integrated with each other and operations are in close cordinations and cooperation in common areas. Study based in two qualitative semi-structured focus group interviews with three children in each other group. To analyze the material used a phenomenographic analysis model. The result show that children feel that it is imortant to have free play in the school center. The children experience a degree of freedom, because you yourself may determine the content of their play. Pedagogue role in the free game perceive children as a role, where the adults keep order and ensure that the children needs are met and to avoid conflict. Educators will alto be assisting with activities to inspire creativity. Free play is also linked to emotions such as desire and curiosity and to friends enriches free play greatly.

The purpose of the study was to research what kind of physical activities takes place in pre-school, and teachers views and thoughts of physical activity in combination with aestethic learningprocesses. The study endeavors to show how aesthetic learning processes can be combined with physical activity and be used as a tool to teach other subjects, such as, math, science and aesthetic subjects. I specifically investigate how you can combine a physical activity with a creative process and play to make the learning process fun and developing for the children. The study was made with qualitative interviews with six pre-school teachers from three different communal pre-schools in Karlstad, Sweden. My result shows that the teachers think that physical activity is very important for the children and their health and also their motor and coordination, but that they rarely plan or in some cases never plan a physical activity because their opinion is that the physical activity takes place in the children’s spontaneous play. The result of my study also shows that teachers that have a personal interest in physical activity had more planned physical activities than the teachers that had a little or no personal interest in physical activity. / Jag kommer i min studie undersöka vilka tankar pedagogerna har om fysisk aktivitet i förskolan samt hur pedagogerna resonerar kring fysisk aktivitet i relation till estetiska lärprocesser. Jag undersöker särskilt hur fysisk aktivitet kan vara kopplat till kreativitet och lek, vilken betydelse pedagogernas roll får för att stimulera barnens sinnliga förmågor och hur det på ett kreativt sätt kan ske ett utvecklande och lustfyllt lärande. Anledningen till att jag valt att studera fysisk aktivitet i relation till estetiska lärprocesser är för att jag tror att vi med stor fördel kan använda oss av estetiska lärprocesser som ett verktyg för att lära ut ämnen som vi inte ser som klassiska, estetiska ämnen, till exempel matematik och naturvetenskapliga ämnen, barnen behöver då ledas pedagogiskt. Studien bygger på kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex förskollärare på tre förskolor i Karlstad kommun. I resultatet framkom att pedagogerna anser att fysisk aktivitet är viktigt för att främja hälsan och barnens grovmotorik och koordination, men att det sällan sker planerade och ledda fysiska aktiviteter, den fysiska aktiviteten sker istället i barnens spontana och fria lek.

This thesis deals with leisure time of preschool children. The theoretical part describes the preschool children in view of their development, the importance of family, kindergarten and leisure. It also discusses the free time where there are defined basic concepts, as well as functions of leisure time, the factors that affect leisure and specifics of children's leisure time. Finally, it is engaged in activities related to the leisure time of preschool children. The principal activity is the free game, among others include work and learning. These last two operations usually are spontaneous and kids do not even realize they are learning or working. The practical part deals with a qualitative research. Based on realized structured interviews will be found categories characteristic of a experience of time off at preschool children.

Syftet med studien är att bidra med ökad kunskap om attraktiva lekmiljöer i förskolan, utifrån barns perspektiv. Studien utgår från ett urval enskilda barns berättelser om förskolans lekmiljöer. Som metod för att samla in empiri har kvalitativa intervjuer använts. De har bandats och transkriberats för att ligga till grund för analysen som utgått från Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis IPA. Det är en metod som försöker ta reda på individers meningsskapande och upplevelser av ett fenomen genom ett hermeneutiskt tolkande och ett fenomenologiskt perspektiv. Resultatet i den här studien visar att barnen helst valde rum i periferin och att genomgångsrum valdes bort. I de attraktiva lekmiljöerna lockade främst konstruktionsmaterial och material som möjliggjorde rolltagning. Studien visade också att kamratrelationer utgjorde en del av den attraktiva lekmiljön. Utifrån de valen synliggjordes att barnen fann mening och lockelse i det föränderliga och möjligheten att själv påverka utformandet av sin miljö. De attraktiva rummens placering gav i sin tur möjlighet till ostörd fördjupning av lek, vilket upplevdes meningsfullt av barnen. Samspelet och relationen till nära vänner var i sin tur ytterligare en del av meningsskapandet i den attraktiva lekmiljön. / The purpose of this paper is to contribute with increased knowledge concerning attractive play-environments in the preschool from the perspective of children.  The study is based on a selection of individual children’s stories about play-environments in the preschool. Qualitative interviews have been used as a method of collecting empirical evidence.  They have been recorded and transcribed to form the basis for the analysis based on Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis IPA. It is a method that is trying to find out the individual’s perception and experience of a phenomenon through a hermeneutic interpretation and a phenomenological perspective. The result of this study shows that the children preferred rooms located in the periphery and avoided the passage rooms. What enticed most in the attractive playgrounds were construction materials and materials that enabled taking on roles. The result furthermore showed that companion relations were part of the attractive environment.  Based on the choices it was made clear that the children found meaning and enticement in the fluctuating and the ability to influence the design of their environment. The location of the attractive rooms in turn gave the opportunity for undisturbed immersion of play which was perceived as meaningful by the children.  The interaction and relationship with close friends were in turn another part of what created meaning in the attractive play-environment.

Title: "Stop! You can't play with me!" A norm-critical essay on how the teacher influences children's free play at preschool Abstract This essay is based on two cases describing two children in a few different situations at preschool. These cases form the basis of a dilemma, discussing how involved the teacher should be in children's free play. The dilemma poses questions regarding the teacher’s actions when a child does not want to play with other children, as well as a child that seems incapable of playing with other children. The cases help highlight the implicit idea that children should play with other children. My purpose is to investigate what implicit normative ideas exists about children playing at preschool and to what extent they form my own notion about the necessity for children to be able to play. The method used in this paper is a reflective essay. This enables it possible for me to reflect on my role as a teacher and how I act in the different cases. The reflective part of the essay focuses on answering posed questions, with the basis of discussion being the Swedish curriculum for preschool and its influences. Further, the essay discusses the origin of my own ideas about how children should play originate from. The focus then moves to a sociocultural perspective, specially how children learn and develop when they interact with each other. This section of the essay also discusses norms at preschool, developed from an interpretation of the curriculum, as well as existing ideas about children playing and children as competent learners. Finally, the essay also discusses current research on children and how they play, as well as current research on the importance of involved teachers, put in relation to the two children portrayed in the presented cases. My conclusion is that the teacher is subject to the curriculum, and needs to act according to its content. A significant part of the work is creating a safe environment for the children. The curriculum of the Swedish preschool, and the implicit theories that help shape it, act as a guide to the teacher’s actions. It states that children should explore the world around them; hence there are norms about how a child should play. Keywords: preschool, free play, social interaction, norms, involved teachers, curriculum

What we are investigating in experience-based essay is children’s free play in preschool. The purpose is to find out exactly how free the so called “free play” is and what interventions from the teachers can result in and contribute to when it comes to children’s play in preschool. Our main questions are: In what way should preschool teachers intervene in children’s playing situations? Should preschool teachers work against stereotypical gender roles everyday play situations? Why is children’s unrestricted play important in preschool? We are starting of this scientific essay by introducing two stories that’s self-experienced in our roles as preschool teachers. In the first story we are writing about a dilemma that occurs when a play situation leads up to the teacher feeling that the best solution is to end the game. In the second story we are describing a dilemma that occurs as the teacher decides to intervene in the children’s play and the intervention results in the children getting bored and eventually decides to leave the game themselves. With the help from different theories and from the knowledge we’ve been taught due to our preschool teacher education, we are reflecting on how we managed these play situations and what we could have done differently. We are doing this to get different point of views to what children’s free play means, get an insight on the act and responsibility of teachers and also to get more insight to what meaning gender specific toys and boundaries possibly can have in children’s play. We are starting the reflection from a gender perspective and are analyzing with the help from a scientific article with the focus on gender specific toys. Our final reflection is that the teachers have a positive attitude towards the free play, but that they are subconsciously controlling with both rules and the way that toys are to be used. Through this work we have come to the conclusion that it is important that the teachers are present, supportive and involved in the children’s play due to its possibility of being a process dealing with real life events. It isalso important to work with equality in children’s play at preschool to break down current unequal structures between genders. / Det vi undersöker med denna erfarenhetsbaserade essä är barns fria lek i förskolan. Syftet är att ta reda på hur fri den så kallade fria leken är och vad pedagogers ingripande i barns leksituationer kan resultera i och bidra till vad gäller barns lek i förskolan. Våra frågeställningar vi vill belysa är: Hur ska pedagoger gripa in i leksituationer? Ska pedagoger i förskolan motverka stereotypa könsroller i vardagliga leksituationer? Varför är barns fria lek viktig i förskolan? Vi påbörjar denna vetenskapliga essä med att introducera två berättelser vi själva upplevt i våra roller som pedagoger på förskola. I första berättelsen skriver vi om ett dilemma som uppstår då en leksituation leder till att pedagogen upplever att den bästa lösningen är att avsluta leken. I den andra berättelsen beskriver vi ett dilemma som uppstår när pedagogen lägger sig i barnens lek som leder till att barnen tröttnar och tillslut självmant väljer att gå ifrån leken. Med hjälp av olika teorier och de kunskaper vi tillägnat oss från vår utbildning till förskollärare reflekterar vi över hur vi hanterade dessa leksituationer och vad vi hade kunnat göra annorlunda. Detta gör vi för att få olika synsätt gällande vad barns fria lek betyder, få syn på pedagogens agerande och ansvar samt för att få mer inblick i vad könsbundna leksaker och gränssättning kan ha för betydelse i barns lek. Vår slutliga reflektion är att pedagogerna har en positiv inställning till den fria leken, men att pedagogerna är inne och omedvetet styr med både regler och hur leksaker ska användas. Vi har genom detta arbete kommit fram till att det är viktigt att pedagoger är närvarande, stöttande och sätter sig in i barns lek då det kan vara bearbetning av verkliga händelser. Det är även viktigt att arbeta med likvärdighet ibarns lek på förskolan för att bryta nuvarande ojämlika uppbyggnader mellan könen.