American and Japanese kindergartners’ views of play through the use of photo elicitation interviews (PEIs)

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine American and Japanese kindergarteners’ views of play. The participants consisted of 44 kindergarteners and their five teachers in the southeastern United States and 50 kindergarteners and their three teachers on Japan’s main island. Both groups of children were asked to photograph their views of play and to explain the reasons for their photographs. Teachers were also interviewed about their views of play. Qualitative analysis revealed that children’s views of play were associated with interactions with others, preferred environments, and favorite toys/props. Both groups of children photographed outdoors. Only Japanese children photographed toys/props without people while no American children did. Many children’s reasons for photographs were descriptive while Japanese children described physical environments, affective states, and favorite toys/props. Only Japanese children’s photographs captured toys/props and outdoor environments without people and they gave more detailed explanations for their photographs than did American children.