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Primary education: listening and observing
Primary education: listening and observing

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2.1.5 What do children’s comments and drawings tell us?

In this research extract, it seems that boys and girls have very different playtime experiences. What is your own experience of this, for your own children or for children that you know?

The research shows that playground friendships are important to children, who express strong feelings about being included or excluded. The research also shows that some children might be cautious or even fearful about playtimes.

The reading refers to ‘locomotor play’, that is, movement in any direction for its own sake. Locomotor play appears to be a key feature of playtime, when children can run about without adult intervention. Tag, chasing games, ‘It’ and hide and seek, are all ways for children to express control over their physical environment.