En kvalitativ studie om pedagogens deltagande roller - som hinder och möjlighet i barns fria lek

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to investigate the view of educators on their participation in free play in preschool. Free play is a typical activity for preschool. Engdahl & Ärlemalm-Hagsér (2015) highlight Fröbel as creator of the concept of free play. According to Fröbel, free play is characterized by creativity, freedom, repetition, learning and development (p. 145). Lindgren, Pramling & Säljö (2017) also motivate free play as chosen and led by the children themselves (p.148). With the revised curriculum, play has generally changed and more space has been given. However, the concept of teaching has been added, which means that the free play is being overshadowed. The curriculum for preschool does not highlight the concept of free play, but play in general, where children must be given the conditions for play so that they themselves initiate and that someone in the work team introduces the play to them (p. 8). Play should have a central place in preschool education, where an approach for everyone who is a part of the work team is to encourage play and confirm the importance of play for children’s development, learning and wellbeing (p.8). Nilsson & Lecusay (2020) believe that play is human’s most distinctive feature (p. 78). and that adults should actively contribute to children’s plays (ibid p. 82). As teaching has taken over most of the activities, there is a fear that the play will be overshadowed and taken for granted. Free play may be seen as a normal behavior, which can lead to it being easily taken for granted (Pramling Samuelsson & Asplund Carlsson 2008, p. 629) and therefore must be encouraged and challenged by adults by participating in the play.