"Play Quality and 21st Century Skills: Traits of Elementary Students Who Do Not Play"

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K02581
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: AWAHARA Tomoko 福井大学, 学術研究院教育・人文社会系部門(総合グローバル), 准教授 (80608753)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 熊澤 栄二 石川工業高等専門学校, 建築学科, 教授 (30321425)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 子ども / 小学生 / 遊び / コロナ禍 / 21世紀型スキル / 子どもの権利 / 遊びの質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined changes in the lives, play behaviors, and self-awareness of elementary school students under the unique social conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of increased free time during the pandemic, the proportion of children who did not engage in play decreased, and a general increase in playtime was observed. Positive effects were also confirmed in aspects of self-awareness such as self-esteem and self-efficacy, which are considered part of 21st-century skills. Furthermore, given the importance of adult involvement in enhancing the quality of children's play environments, a questionnaire survey was conducted with directors of children's centers and after-school clubs. The results revealed a relationship between awareness of children's rights and the quality of play environments provided.

Free Research Field

こども環境学、建築計画

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

コロナ禍という異常事態下での子どもの遊び・自己意識の変化に関する研究はまだ限られており貴重なデータとなったと考えられる。また、遊びの自由度や人間関係が自己肯定感等の21世紀型スキルと関係する点、遊び環境の向上には、大人の「子どもの権利」への理解が鍵である点が明らかとなった。子どもの意識だけでなく、遊び環境を保障する側の大人の意識改革が今後の子どもの成育環境保障のポイントとなると考えられ、これらの知見は、家庭・教育現場・行政にとって示唆に富むものとなった。