Research Question

What are the opportunities for play for Ukrainian children aged 0 – 6 years living in accommodation centres in Galway City & County?

Aim

The aim is to identify the opportunities for play for Ukrainian children aged 0-6 years living in accommodations centres.

Objectives

To explore current opportunities for Ukrainian children to play in accommodation centres.

To examine the determinants that impact Ukrainian children’s play in accommodation centres.

Dewey (1916), an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer, stated that play is not just for fun; play can enhance children’s experience of natural learning and development. There are numerous definitions of play throughout literature, Kernan (2007, p.5) states that ‘there is one agreement among theorists from a range of disciplines, which is that play contributes significantly to children’s development’. Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget suggest that learning through play and having the space to play are integral to children’s well-being, learning, and development. Wood (2014) goes further to state that play is a basic human need as well as a basic human right.

The United Nations Children’s Rights Convention; Article 31 states that every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child, and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts, and promote and encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity (Children’s Rights Alliance, 2010). Children’s right to play may not be upheld in certain settings where space is limited. This is also the case for emergency accommodation shelters for families such as B&Bs, hotels and respite care homes.