Development of Play Activity Sets Based on Loose Parts Play Theory to Promote Executive Function Skills of Early Childhood Children in Network Schools for Teacher Professional Training

Abstract

     The objectives of this research are to 1) develop a set of play activities based on the Loose Parts Play Theory to promote EF brain skills in children from network schools who participate in teaching professional experience training, and 2) find the efficiency of the play activity set according to the theory of Loose Parts Play to promote EF brain skills of early childhood children network schools participate in teaching professional experience training. The activities are held for 3 weeks, 3 times a week, 30 minutes each time, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The sample group used in the research consisted of 20 students in Kindergarten Year 3 at Ban Nai Thung School. The research tools were a set of play activities based on the Loose Parts Play Theory, and an assessment of the EF brain skills of early childhood children. Statistics used in the analysis include mean, standard deviation. Accuracy of content (Content Validity) and determining the effectiveness of activity sets.
     The Loose Parts Play Activity Set is an activity that promotes the comprehensive development of early childhood EF skills. Because the open nature of the play and the variety of materials encourage children to think in many dimensions, practice self-control, remember, and manage information. Planning work and dealing with problems creatively are essential skills for learning. Adaptability and success in life, in which the research results found that 1) the activity set based on the Loose Parts Play Theory promoted EF brain skills of early childhood children at a high level, and 2) the activities set were effective according to the specified criteria of 75.56/81.25.