TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration ................................................................................................................. i
Approval .................................................................................................................... ii
Dedication ................................................................................................................. iii
Acknowledgment ..................................................................................................... iv
Acrony1ns .................................................................................................................. v
Definition of terms .................................................................................................. vi
Table of contents .................................................................................................... vii
List of tables .............................................................................................................. x
list of charts .............................................................................................................. xi
Abstract .................................................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER ONE ....................................................................................................... I
1.0. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ I
1.1 Background to the study .................................................................................... I
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 ............................................................................................. 3
1.6 Significance of the study ................................................................................... 1
Conceptual framework ............................................................................................. 4
CHAPrfER rfWO ...................................................................................................... 5
2.0. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................ 5
2.1 . Introduction ........................................................................................................ 5
2.2. Impact of play on academic performance of early childhood education ... 5
2.3. Common types of play ..................................................................................... 6
2. 4. Factors that hinder children's play ................................................................ 8
2.5. Importance of play on early childhood development.. ................................. 9
vii
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CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................ IO
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... IO
3.0. Introduction ...................................................................................................... I 0
3.1. Research Design .............................................................................................. 10
3.2. Study area ......................................................................................................... IO
3 .3. Study population ............................................................................................. IO
3.4. Sample size and sampling technique ............................................................ 10
3.5. Research instruments ...................................................................................... IO
3 .5 .1 Reliability of instruments ...................................................... ...................... I I
3.6. Data collection procedure ................ .............................................................. 11
3. 7. Data analysis .................................................................................................... I I
CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................. 12
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ........... 12
4.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 12
4.1. Profile of the respondents .............................................................................. 12
4.2 Impact of play on the academic performance of early childhood .............. 15
4.3 Common types of play .................................................................................... 19
4.4 Factors hindering children's play ................................................................... 20
4.5 Importance of play on early childhood development .................................. 22
CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................... 28
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................... ..................................... ............ 28
5.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 28
5 .1 Summary ........................................................................................................... 28
5.2. Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 30
5 .3 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 30
5 .4 Areas for further studies .................................................................................. 3
ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to determine impact of play on academic performance of Early childhood education in South Zone, Kakamega South district, Kenya. The research objectives were; to investigate the common types of play, to determine the factors that hinder children's play lo determine the impact ofplay on academic pe,formance of early childhood education and to determine the importance of play on early childhood development in South Zone, Kakamega South district, Kenya. The methods used/or data collection were questionnaires to both the teachers and learners. The study revealed that play helps the children pe1form well in class, it makes the children like the school environment, children who play do not find d{fficulties in solving problems and play improves children's pe,jormance 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 ·with 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. Government should make sure 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 fit?fill 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 ofplayfi,lly.
