Thesis (MOccTher)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Play is widely acknowledged as a cornerstone of childhood development. Its significance stretches
beyond developing cognitive abilities and school readiness to the development of social skills,
emotional expression and well-being. The milieu, or environment, is recognized as highly
influential with regards to occupational performance; the play environment is therefore also of great
importance to child development. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the assessment
of this play environment, especially in a developing country context. This study therefore focuses
on the play environment at South African crèches, specifically with regards to assessing the
environmental factors impacting children’s play, namely play space, play objects, play time and
play mates (including caregivers). The National Guidelines of ECD Services in South Africa had
already set standards relating to play space, play time and caregiver ratio’s at crèches. Criteria for
play objects were established as part of this study through an extensive literature review. These
criteria were then applied in a quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive survey at registered crèches
in Macassar, a community in the Cape Flats outside Cape Town. The survey results indicated that
crèches complied to play space and play time regulations, but that not all crèches complied with the
regulations regarding caregiver-child ratio’s and play object adequacy. The crèches especially
lacked in gross motor play objects. These findings emphasize the importance of establishing
practical criteria and guidelines for all aspects of the play environment and enforcing those
standards at day care crèches. The study also provides a useful framework for measuring the
adequacy of the play environment at South African crèches. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Spel is ‘n belangrike hoeksteen in kinderontwikkeling en het ‘n noemenswaardige impak op
kognitiewe ontwikkeling, skoolgereedheid, die ontwikkeling van sosiale vaardighede, uitdrukking
van emosies en algemene welstand. Die milieu, of omgewing, word wyd aangeslaan vir die invloed
wat dit op arbeidsverrigting uitoefen en die spelomgewing is daarom belangrik. Daar is egter ‘n
tekort in kennis aangaande die spel omgewing, veral in die konteks van ‘n ontwikkelende land soos
Suid-Afrika. Hierdie studie bestudeer dus die spel omgewing in Suid-Afrikaanse dagsorgsentrums.
Speel-spasie, speeltyd, speelgoed en speel-maats vorm saam die omgewingsfaktore wat op die spel
omgewing impakteer en die studie fokus dus op hierdie vier faktore. Die Nasionale Riglyne vir
Voorskoolse Kinder Ontwikkeling in Suid Afrika het reeds standaarde gestel ten opsigte van die
vewagte fisiese spasie, speeltyd en die getal kinders tot versorgers (versorger-kind verhouding) by
Suid Afrikaanse dagsorg sentrums. Kriteria wat meet of daar voldoende speelgoed beskikbaar is vir
kinders se optimale ontwikkeling is na aanleiding van ‘n literatuurstudie ontwikkel. Hierdie kriteria,
tesame met die kriteria wat deur die Nasionale Riglyne gestel is, is gebruik om die spelomgewing
by dagsorg-sentrums in die Macassar gemeenskap op die Kaapse Vlaktes net buite Kaapstad te meet
d.m.v ‘n beskrywende opname. Volgens die sensus resultate voldoen die dagsorgsentrums wel aan
kriteria ten opsigte van fisiese spasie en beplande speeltyd, maar ontbreek hulle ten opsigte van die
versorger-kind verhouding. Die resultate dui ook aan dat al die dagsorg-sentrums nie voldoende
speelgoed gehad het om die volle spektrum van kinderontwikkeling te dek nie. Hulle het veral
ontbreek in speelgoed vir grof-motoriese spel. Die studie beklemtoon die belang van praktiese en
spesifieke riglyne en standaarde sowel as die implementering van hierdie standaarde. Die studie
verskaf ook ‘n raamwerk wat gebruik kan word in die assesering van die spel omgewing in ‘n
ontwikkelende konteks, sowel as om toekomstige intervensies te lei.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/18025 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Kruger, Maria Elizabeth |
| Contributors | Kemp, Rene, Beukes, Susan, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Occupational Therapy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 117 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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