Joyce Kamau 
Parental Roles In Provision Of Play And Learning Materials Among Children With Physical Challenges 

Master’s Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Pedagogy – Nursery Pedagogy, Early Childhood Education, Kenyatta University, course: Early Childhood Studies, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of parents in the provision of play and learning materials to children with various physical challenges in the early childhood in a primary school for the physically challenged. The study established the role of parents and factors influencing their support in provision of play and learning materials.

In early childhood education play and learning are inseparable and they stimulate one another. There are dimensions of play in learning and dimension of play in learning. Several studies have proved that play especially during early years promotes learning and holistic development. However, play and learning for a child with physical challenges is not effortless a lot should be done by stakeholders involved in provision of play and learning materials.

Studies by Kamere (2004), Kimosop (2002) and Wamocho (2003) reveal that special schools do not have adequate play and learning materials however they did not investigate factors behind the inadequacies from parents’ point of view hence the need for the current study. Government, parents and other stakeholders have tried their best to cater for educational needs of children with physical challenges but the inadequacies persist.

Therefore, the study sought to establish role of parents in the provision of play and learning materials and the challenges they experience in provision of play and learning materials which are of key importance to these children. Also the study established activities that children engage in with play and learning materials provided to them.