Perspectives of Play in Three Nations: A Comparative Study in Japan, the United States, and Sweden

dc.creator	Satomi Izumi-Taylor
dc.creator	Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson
dc.creator	Cosby Steele Rogers
dc.date	2010-01-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:36:24Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:36:24Z
dc.identifier	1524-5039
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/a98633c87a7544038e5c563939876985
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/22976
dc.description	This reflective paper discusses findings about differences and similarities in perspectives on play among early childhood educators in Japan, the United States, and Sweden. Analysis of survey data collected from educators in those nations yielded six themes regarding the meanings and uses of play: (1) process of learning, (2) source of possibilities, (3) empowerment, (4) creativity, (5) child’s work, and (6) fun activities. Processes of learning, fun activities, and creativity were the universal themes of play that emerged during analysis. Japanese and Swedish teachers related play to the theme source of possibilities, but American teachers did not. The theme play as child’s work was represented in the American and Swedish teachers’ notions of play but not in those of the Japanese teachers. The theme of play as empowerment differentiated Japanese teachers from the others. Japanese and Swedish teachers reported offering unstructured play to children, while their American counterparts did not. Two themes emerged in the participants’ responses regarding adult play: “state of heart” (state of mind) and positive feelings. Although American and Japanese teachers associated playfulness with a “state of the heart/mind,” their Swedish counterparts did not indicate such associations. Teachers from all three nations did, however, agree that playfulness involves and promotes positive feelings.
dc.language	English
dc.language	Chinese
dc.language	Spanish
dc.publisher	ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education, University of Illinois
dc.relation	http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v12n1/izumi.html
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1524-5039
dc.source	Early Childhood Research & Practice, Vol 12, Iss 1 (2010)
dc.subject	Early Childhood Education
dc.subject	Play
dc.subject	Young Children
dc.subject	Cultural Differences
dc.subject	Sweden
dc.subject	Japan
dc.subject	United States
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Theory and practice of education
dc.subject	LB5-3640
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	Perspectives of Play in Three Nations: A Comparative Study in Japan, the United States, and Sweden
dc.type	article