Recreational activities for the development of identity and autonomy in children in Early Childhood Education II

Abstract

Introduction: In certain contexts where early childhood education is developed, children are characterized by low participation, withdrawal, and dependence on others for educational and personal activities. Objective: To design a didactic proposal based on recreational activities for the development of identity and autonomy in children in Early Childhood Education II. Materials and Methods: The study's approach is mixed (qualitative-quantitative), with theoretical, empirical, and statistical methods guiding the research. The techniques that facilitated data collection were observation of 4- and 5-year-old children, a survey of 3 teachers, and an interview with the director of the "Albert Einstein" Private School located in the Portoviejo canton, Manabí province, Ecuador. Results: The majority of 4- and 5-year-old children have initiated 7 skills. Meanwhile, 100% of the teachers observed problems related to identity and autonomy in 4- and 5-year-old children. And 67% acknowledge that they occasionally promote the development of identity and autonomy in children. Conclusions: The applicability of recreational activities contributes to the development of identity and autonomy in Early Childhood Education II students. Therefore, it is important to apply these strategic actions to motivate 4- and 5-year-old children to perform tasks independently and to believe in their ability to do so. Furthermore, it is important to implement the seven proposed recreational activities, such as creating stories that express emotions; the dress-up game; and dramatized games for safety.