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Beneficial outcomes and features of playgroup participation for children and adult caregivers : A systematic review of the literature
McLean, Karen Edwards, Susan Katiba, Timothy Bartlett, Jacinta Herrington, Michele Evangelou, Maria Henderson, Michael Nolan, Andrea Skouteris, Helen
McLean, Karen
Edwards, Susan
Katiba, Timothy
Bartlett, Jacinta
Herrington, Michele
Evangelou, Maria
Henderson, Michael
Nolan, Andrea
Skouteris, Helen
Abstract
Playgroups are a unique form of early childhood education and care provision involving children and their adult caregivers attending and participating in shared play. Playgroups are known to promote positive social and educational outcomes for children and adult caregivers (e.g., parents, carers, or kinship members), however, the playgroup research is not well summarised for confirming beneficial outcomes for children and their caregivers, alongside insight into the features of provision pertaining to playgroups in practice. To advance the field, this systematic literature review sought to identify the beneficial outcomes of playgroup participation for children and their adult caregivers and any indicated primary and secondary features of playgroup provision in practice. Forty studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicated several beneficial outcomes for children and adult caregivers, including amongst others, social and emotional beneficial outcomes for children and social connections and support for adult caregivers. Findings also suggested four primary and three secondary features of provision. Primary features were facilitator, play activities, safe welcoming space and routines and structure. Secondary features were service networks, materials and venue. Analysis of the reported measures used in the studies to establish beneficial outcomes for children and adult caregivers show a reliance on interviews and non-validated measures. Further research is needed using validated measures and to establish how beneficial outcomes of playgroup participation for children and adult caregivers are related to features of provision in practice.
Keywords
playgroups, children, caregivers, beneficial outcomes, features of provision
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
Educational Research Review
Book
Volume
37
Issue
Page Range
1-24
Article Number
Article 100493
ACU Department
Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education (ILSTE)
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled