Play in retrospection

Anette Sandberg; Eva Björck‐Åkesson; Mats Granlund

doi:10.1080/15017410409512645

Original Articles

Play in retrospection

Authors:

Anette Sandberg ,

Mälardalens University, Sweden, SE

About Anette

Ph.D., is a lecturer

Eva Björck‐Åkesson,

Mälardalen University, Sweden, SE

About Eva

Ph.D. Professor of education

Mats Granlund

Mälardalen University and ALA-research foundation, Sweden, SE

About Mats

PhD, Professor of psychology

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze and describe how adults with visual disability, motor disability and Asperger syndrome retrospectively identify and experience play in their childhood. Fifteen adults, aged 25 to 76 years, were interviewed about their play experiences. A qualitative approach was adopted with the aim to describe qualitatively different experiences of play. The findings indicate that play experiences merge like mirror images with participation and exclusion as two divergent sides of play. The data suggest that niches for play experiences include three components related to participation and exclusion: a personal component, a social component and an environmental component. Type of disability is one of many aspects making up the three components without being a central feature within any of the components. Type of disability affects personal characteristics and preferences, form of social interaction and the environmental requirements for participating in play but not the experience of play per se. Unique to this study is the importance assigned to the concept of niche. Perceived niches are based on memories and also influence the construction of memories. Thus, they function as a link between perceptions of experiences of play from childhood to adulthood.

How to Cite: Sandberg, A., Björck‐Åkesson, E. & Granlund, M., (2009). Play in retrospection. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research. 6(2), pp.111–130. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017410409512645

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Published on 08 Jul 2009

Peer Reviewed

CC BY 4.0

References

Alexandersson , M. (1994). . Metod och medvetande. [Method and Awareness]. , [city: Göteborg], , Sweden: : Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis. .
Almqvist , L. and Granlund , M. (). Participation in school environments of children and youth with disabilities. . Scandianvian Journal of Pshycology, , (accepted)..
Bergen , D. , Liu , W. and Liu , G. (1997). . Chinese and American College Students’ Memories of Childhood Play: A Comparative Educology. . International Journal of Educology , 11((2)): : 109.–.
Brodin , J. (1991). . Att tolka barns signaler ‐ Lek och kommunikation hos barn med flerhandikapp. [To Interpret Childrens Signals. Play and communication in profoundly mentally retarded and multiply handicapped children]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Department of Education, Stockholms University. .
Brodin , J. and Molosiwa , S. (2000). . International outlook—An empirical study on teacher's views of play in Botswana. . Euro Rehab , 2: : 65.–.
Bronfenbrenner , U. (1999). . “Environments in development perspective: Theoretical and operational models. ”. In Measuring Environment Across the Lifespan. , Edited by: Friedman , S. and Wachs , T. [city: Washington D.C]: : American Psychological Association. .
Crafoord , C. (1996). . Barndommens återkomst. [Return of childhood]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Natur och Kultur. .
Doctoroff , S. (1996). . Supporting Social Pretend Play in Young Children with Disabilities. . Early Child Development and Care , 119: : 27.–.
Eriksson , L. and Granlund , M. (). Conceptions of participation in students with disabilities and actors in their living environments. . Journal of Physical and Developmental Disabilities, , (accepted)..
Farrenkopf , C. , Howze , Y. and Sovell , V. (1995). Social Skills Development for Preschool Children with Visual Impairments. . Paper presented at the Annual International Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children. 73rd. . April5–91995, , [city: Indian‐polis, IN], USA.
Gibson , J.J. (1979). . The ecological approach to visual perception. , [city: Boston], , USA: : Houghton Mifflin Company. .
Henninger , M. (1994). . Adult perceptions of favorite childhood play experiences. . Early Child Development and Care , 99: : 23.–.
HSFR, Humanistisk‐samhällsvetenskapliga forsk‐ningsrådet (1999). . . ETIK, HSFR, Forskningse‐tiska principer for humaniora och samhällsveten‐skap. .
Jahr , E. , Eldervik , S. and Eikesteh , S. (2000). . Teaching children with autism to initiate and sustain cooperative play. . Research in Devlopmental Disabilities , 21: : 151.–.
Jansson , U. (2001). . Togetherness and Diversity in Pre‐school Play. . Internationaljournal of Early Years Education , 9((2)): : 135.–.
Jorup , B. and Preisler , G. (2001). . Att göra gemensamt i leken ‐ om lekens kommunikativa villkor: en lek‐teoretisk genomgång. [Doing together in play ‐about the play communicational roles. An play‐theoretical survey]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Psykologiska institutionen, Stockholms Universitet. .
Johnson , J. E. , Christie , J.F. and Yawkey , T.D. (1999). . Play and Early Childhood Development. , [city: New York], , USA: : Addison Wesley Longman. .
Larsson , S. (1986). . Kvalitativ analys ‐ exemplet fenomenografi. [Qualitative analysis ‐ exampel phenomenography ]. , [city: Lund], , Sweden: : Studentlitteratur. .
Marton , F. (1981). . Phenomenography ‐ Describing conceptions of the world around us. . Instructional Science , 10: : 177.–.
Marton , F. (1994). . “Phenomenography.. ”. In The International Encyclopedia of Education. . , 2nd ed , Edited by: Husén , T. and Posthlewaite , T. N. Vol. 8, [city: Oxford]: : Pergamon Press. .
Marton , F. and Pang , M. F. (). Two Faces of Variation. . Paper presented at 8th European Conference for Learning and Instruction. . August24–28, , [city: Gothenburg], Sweden.
Marton , F. and Booth , S. (2000). . Om larande. [Learning and Awareness]. , [city: Lund], , Sweden: : Studentlit‐teratur. .
Mc William , R. A. and Ware , W.B. (1994). . The reliability of observations of young children's engagement: An application of generalizability theory. . Journal of Early Intervention , 18((1)): : 34.–.
Paldanius , S. (1999). . Delaktighet, demokrati och organisationsförändringar i skilda verkligheter. En kritisk ansats. [Participation, democracy and organizational change in different realities]. , [city: Linköping], , Sweden: : Linköpings University, Department of Education and Psychology. .
Patton , M. Q. (1990). . Qualitative evaluation and research methods. . , 2nded , [city: Newbury Park], [state: California]: : Sage Publications. .
Paulsson , K. (1995). . ’Dom säger att jag ser mer normal ut med benproteser”. Om samhällskrav kontra barns behov ‘. [They says that I see more normal out with artificial leg. About society contra childrens needs]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Department of Education at Stockholms University. .
Pramling , I. (1994). . Kunnandets grunder. Prövning av enfenomenografisk ansats till att utveckla barns sätt att uppfatta sin omvärld. [The basic of knowledge. As phenomenografic approach to develop children's conceptions of the world]. , [city: Göteborg], , Sweden: : Acta Universitatis Got‐hoburgensis. .
Pirila , S. , Nieminen , P. , Seppänen , R‐L. and Korpela , R. (1996). . The play of Disabled Children in Early Development. . Childhood Education: International Perspectives, , : : 210.–.
Sandberg , A. (2001). . Play Memories from Childhood to Adulthood. . Early Child Development and Care , 167: : 13.–.
Sandberg , A. (2002). . Children's Concepts of Teachers’ Ways of Relating to Play. . Australian Journal of Early Childhood. , 27((4)): : 18.–.
Sandberg , A. (2003). . Playmemories and Play identity. . Early Child Development and Care. , 173((2)): : 207.–.
Sandberg , A. and Pramling.Samuelsson , I. (2003). . Preschool teachers’ play experinces then and now. . Early Childhood Research & Practice , 5((1))
Sheldon , K. (1996). . Can I play Too? Adapting Common Classroom Activities for Young Children with Limitied Motor Abilities. . Early Childhood Education Journal , 24((2)): : 115.–.
Skär , L. and Tamm , M. (2001). . My assistant and I: disabled children's and adolescents roles and relationships to their assistants. . Disability and Society , 16: : 917.–.
Sommer , D. (1997). . Barndomspsykologi. Utveckling i enförändrad värld. [Childhood psychology. Development in an changing world]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Runa. .
Super , C. M. and Harkness , S. (1999). . “The environmental as culture in development research. ”. In Measuring Environment Across the Life Span. Emerging Methods and Concepts. , Edited by: Friedman , S.L. and Wachs , T.D. [city: Washington, DC], , USA: : American Psychological Association. .
Tamm , M. and Skär , L. (2000). . How I play: Roles and relations in the play situation of children with restricted mobility. . Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy , 7: : 174.–.
Tammemäe‐Orr , H. and Sandberg , A. (). Drawings and Conceptions of Play by Children Aged, , : 7.–. (submitted)..
United Nations Convention of the Rights (1989). . . Resolution adopted by the General Assembly ‐Forty‐fourth Session. , [city: New York]: : United Nation. .
Vygotsky , L.S. (1933). . Play and its role in the mental development of the child. . Soviet psychology , 12((6)): : 62.–. 1966.
Vygotsky , L.S. (1978). . Mind in society. The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. , [city: Cambridge, Massachusetts], , USA: : Harvard University Press. .
Vygotsky , L.S. (1979). . Consciousness as a Problem in the Psychology of Behavior. . Soviet psychology , 17: : 3.–.
Vygotsky , L.S. (1995). . Fantasi och kreativitet i barndomen. [Imagination and creativity in childhood]. , [city: Göteborg], , Sweden: : Daidalos. .
Wachs , T. (2000). . Necessary but not sufficient. , [city: Washington D.C], , USA: : American Psychological Association. .
WHO (2001). . . International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. , [city: Geneva]: : World Health Organization. . (ICF).
Wickerius, M. & Sandberg, A. (submitted). The signification of play and the environment around play..

[CIT0001] Alexandersson , M. (1994). . Metod och medvetande. [Method and Awareness]. , [city: Göteborg], , Sweden: : Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis. .

[CIT0002] Almqvist , L. and Granlund , M. (). Participation in school environments of children and youth with disabilities. . Scandianvian Journal of Pshycology, , (accepted)..

[CIT0003] Bergen , D. , Liu , W. and Liu , G. (1997). . Chinese and American College Students’ Memories of Childhood Play: A Comparative Educology. . International Journal of Educology , 11((2)): : 109.–.

[CIT0004] Brodin , J. (1991). . Att tolka barns signaler ‐ Lek och kommunikation hos barn med flerhandikapp. [To Interpret Childrens Signals. Play and communication in profoundly mentally retarded and multiply handicapped children]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Department of Education, Stockholms University. .

[CIT0005] Brodin , J. and Molosiwa , S. (2000). . International outlook—An empirical study on teacher's views of play in Botswana. . Euro Rehab , 2: : 65.–.

[CIT0006] Bronfenbrenner , U. (1999). . “Environments in development perspective: Theoretical and operational models. ”. In Measuring Environment Across the Lifespan. , Edited by: Friedman , S. and Wachs , T. [city: Washington D.C]: : American Psychological Association. .

[CIT0007] Crafoord , C. (1996). . Barndommens återkomst. [Return of childhood]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Natur och Kultur. .

[CIT0008] Doctoroff , S. (1996). . Supporting Social Pretend Play in Young Children with Disabilities. . Early Child Development and Care , 119: : 27.–.

[CIT0009] Eriksson , L. and Granlund , M. (). Conceptions of participation in students with disabilities and actors in their living environments. . Journal of Physical and Developmental Disabilities, , (accepted)..

[CIT0010] Farrenkopf , C. , Howze , Y. and Sovell , V. (1995). Social Skills Development for Preschool Children with Visual Impairments. . Paper presented at the Annual International Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children. 73rd. . April5–91995, , [city: Indian‐polis, IN], USA.

[CIT0011] Gibson , J.J. (1979). . The ecological approach to visual perception. , [city: Boston], , USA: : Houghton Mifflin Company. .

[CIT0012] Henninger , M. (1994). . Adult perceptions of favorite childhood play experiences. . Early Child Development and Care , 99: : 23.–.

[CIT0013] HSFR, Humanistisk‐samhällsvetenskapliga forsk‐ningsrådet (1999). . . ETIK, HSFR, Forskningse‐tiska principer for humaniora och samhällsveten‐skap. .

[CIT0014] Jahr , E. , Eldervik , S. and Eikesteh , S. (2000). . Teaching children with autism to initiate and sustain cooperative play. . Research in Devlopmental Disabilities , 21: : 151.–.

[CIT0015] Jansson , U. (2001). . Togetherness and Diversity in Pre‐school Play. . Internationaljournal of Early Years Education , 9((2)): : 135.–.

[CIT0016] Jorup , B. and Preisler , G. (2001). . Att göra gemensamt i leken ‐ om lekens kommunikativa villkor: en lek‐teoretisk genomgång. [Doing together in play ‐about the play communicational roles. An play‐theoretical survey]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Psykologiska institutionen, Stockholms Universitet. .

[CIT0017] Johnson , J. E. , Christie , J.F. and Yawkey , T.D. (1999). . Play and Early Childhood Development. , [city: New York], , USA: : Addison Wesley Longman. .

[CIT0018] Larsson , S. (1986). . Kvalitativ analys ‐ exemplet fenomenografi. [Qualitative analysis ‐ exampel phenomenography ]. , [city: Lund], , Sweden: : Studentlitteratur. .

[CIT0019] Marton , F. (1981). . Phenomenography ‐ Describing conceptions of the world around us. . Instructional Science , 10: : 177.–.

[CIT0020] Marton , F. (1994). . “Phenomenography.. ”. In The International Encyclopedia of Education. . , 2nd ed , Edited by: Husén , T. and Posthlewaite , T. N. Vol. 8, [city: Oxford]: : Pergamon Press. .

[CIT0021] Marton , F. and Pang , M. F. (). Two Faces of Variation. . Paper presented at 8th European Conference for Learning and Instruction. . August24–28, , [city: Gothenburg], Sweden.

[CIT0022] Marton , F. and Booth , S. (2000). . Om larande. [Learning and Awareness]. , [city: Lund], , Sweden: : Studentlit‐teratur. .

[CIT0023] Mc William , R. A. and Ware , W.B. (1994). . The reliability of observations of young children's engagement: An application of generalizability theory. . Journal of Early Intervention , 18((1)): : 34.–.

[CIT0024] Paldanius , S. (1999). . Delaktighet, demokrati och organisationsförändringar i skilda verkligheter. En kritisk ansats. [Participation, democracy and organizational change in different realities]. , [city: Linköping], , Sweden: : Linköpings University, Department of Education and Psychology. .

[CIT0025] Patton , M. Q. (1990). . Qualitative evaluation and research methods. . , 2nded , [city: Newbury Park], [state: California]: : Sage Publications. .

[CIT0026] Paulsson , K. (1995). . ’Dom säger att jag ser mer normal ut med benproteser”. Om samhällskrav kontra barns behov ‘. [They says that I see more normal out with artificial leg. About society contra childrens needs]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Department of Education at Stockholms University. .

[CIT0027] Pramling , I. (1994). . Kunnandets grunder. Prövning av enfenomenografisk ansats till att utveckla barns sätt att uppfatta sin omvärld. [The basic of knowledge. As phenomenografic approach to develop children's conceptions of the world]. , [city: Göteborg], , Sweden: : Acta Universitatis Got‐hoburgensis. .

[CIT0028] Pirila , S. , Nieminen , P. , Seppänen , R‐L. and Korpela , R. (1996). . The play of Disabled Children in Early Development. . Childhood Education: International Perspectives, , : : 210.–.

[CIT0029] Sandberg , A. (2001). . Play Memories from Childhood to Adulthood. . Early Child Development and Care , 167: : 13.–.

[CIT0030] Sandberg , A. (2002). . Children's Concepts of Teachers’ Ways of Relating to Play. . Australian Journal of Early Childhood. , 27((4)): : 18.–.

[CIT0031] Sandberg , A. (2003). . Playmemories and Play identity. . Early Child Development and Care. , 173((2)): : 207.–.

[CIT0032] Sandberg , A. and Pramling.Samuelsson , I. (2003). . Preschool teachers’ play experinces then and now. . Early Childhood Research & Practice , 5((1))

[CIT0033] Sheldon , K. (1996). . Can I play Too? Adapting Common Classroom Activities for Young Children with Limitied Motor Abilities. . Early Childhood Education Journal , 24((2)): : 115.–.

[CIT0034] Skär , L. and Tamm , M. (2001). . My assistant and I: disabled children's and adolescents roles and relationships to their assistants. . Disability and Society , 16: : 917.–.

[CIT0035] Sommer , D. (1997). . Barndomspsykologi. Utveckling i enförändrad värld. [Childhood psychology. Development in an changing world]. , [city: Stockholm], , Sweden: : Runa. .

[CIT0036] Super , C. M. and Harkness , S. (1999). . “The environmental as culture in development research. ”. In Measuring Environment Across the Life Span. Emerging Methods and Concepts. , Edited by: Friedman , S.L. and Wachs , T.D. [city: Washington, DC], , USA: : American Psychological Association. .

[CIT0037] Tamm , M. and Skär , L. (2000). . How I play: Roles and relations in the play situation of children with restricted mobility. . Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy , 7: : 174.–.

[CIT0038] Tammemäe‐Orr , H. and Sandberg , A. (). Drawings and Conceptions of Play by Children Aged, , : 7.–. (submitted)..

[CIT0039] United Nations Convention of the Rights (1989). . . Resolution adopted by the General Assembly ‐Forty‐fourth Session. , [city: New York]: : United Nation. .

[CIT0040] Vygotsky , L.S. (1933). . Play and its role in the mental development of the child. . Soviet psychology , 12((6)): : 62.–. 1966.

[CIT0041] Vygotsky , L.S. (1978). . Mind in society. The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. , [city: Cambridge, Massachusetts], , USA: : Harvard University Press. .

[CIT0042] Vygotsky , L.S. (1979). . Consciousness as a Problem in the Psychology of Behavior. . Soviet psychology , 17: : 3.–.

[CIT0043] Vygotsky , L.S. (1995). . Fantasi och kreativitet i barndomen. [Imagination and creativity in childhood]. , [city: Göteborg], , Sweden: : Daidalos. .

[CIT0044] Wachs , T. (2000). . Necessary but not sufficient. , [city: Washington D.C], , USA: : American Psychological Association. .

[CIT0045] WHO (2001). . . International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. , [city: Geneva]: : World Health Organization. . (ICF).

[CIT0046] Wickerius, M. & Sandberg, A. (submitted). The signification of play and the environment around play..

Reading: Play in retrospection

Original Articles

Play in retrospection

Authors:

Anette Sandberg ,

Mälardalens University, Sweden, SE

About Anette

X close

Eva Björck‐Åkesson,

Mälardalen University, Sweden, SE

About Eva

X close

Mats Granlund

Mälardalen University and ALA-research foundation, Sweden, SE

About Mats

X close

Abstract

References