Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

College

College of Education and Human Services

Department

Learning Sciences and Human Development

Committee Chair

Barbara G. Warash

Committee Co-Chair

Amy Kennedy Root

Committee Member

Joy Faini Saab

Abstract

There is currently a trend to push academics due to laws such as the No Child Left Behind Act (2001) which holds schools accountable for academic learning. Play and creativity are being eliminated in early childhood even though theorists state the value of these elements in the overall development of young children. The purpose of the study was to examine the primary caregivers' values of play and creativity in early childhood and their child's academic self-esteem. Primary caregivers recruited from a university preschool completed the Parent's As A Teacher Inventory (PAAT) and the teachers of the school rated the children using the Behavioral Academic Self-Esteem (BASE) scale. It was found that primary caregivers valued play and creativity. They placed the endorsement of play and creativity over that of academics. Findings revealed that primary caregivers' value of play was a significant predictor of a child's self-confidence.

Share

COinS