Changes in Children’s Play During COVID-19 Pandemic: Parents’ Views

Abstract

This study examines parents’ views on the changes in their children’s play at the beginning of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) process. The study sample consists of 38 parents, twenty mothers, and eighteen fathers who reside in different city centers (Trabzon, Istanbul, Bursa, and Ankara) in Turkey and have children between three and six. The data were collected with “demographic information form” and “open-ended question form” created by the researchers. Data were collected online via ‘Google Forms.’ Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the research, it was found that children’s play differs according to the type of play, play area, material type, and playing time with parents. The change in the type of play consisted of an increase in pretend play, an increase in educational plays, an increase in board games, an increase in plays involving art activities, a decrease in play behaviors that requires being physically active, an increase in building plays, and an increase in science and nature knowledge plays. The change in material type consisted of an increase in the use of technological tools. The change in the play area consisted of a decrease in outdoor play and an increase in indoor play. These results are discussed with the relevant literature. Change in playing time with parents consisted of increase in playing with mother and increase in playing with father. These results are discussed within the framework of the relevant literature.