The development of early childhood teachers’ sociodramatic and imaginative play skills through a drama-based professional development program

Bibliographic Data

ID21685759
AuthorsAnthia Michaelides (University of Cyprus), Eleni Loizou (0000-0002-9805-241X, University of Cyprus, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume32
Issue6
Pages994-1013
Publication date2024-11-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Early Childhood Education Research Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1350-293X • E-ISSN: 1752-1807
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1350293x.2024.2369515
OpenAlexW4400124010
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited27

Our theoretical framework is based on Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development focusing on adults’ involvement in children’s play and we argue that teachers’ involvement is crucial in supporting children’s play skills. Particularly, this study examines early childhood teachers’ (ECTs) sociodramatic and imaginative play skills and their development through a drama professional development program (DPDP). A 13-week DPDP on ECTs’ socio-dramatic and imaginative play skills was designed and implemented. Thirteen in-service ECTs attended, four of whom provided the data for this paper. Data collection for this study includedpractice video recordings and their analysis with the use of an observational tool by the researchers and the participants. The results revealed three socio-dramatic and imaginative play skills that ECTs must have: Role Enactment, Interactive Dialogue and Interactive Dialogue with Role Enactment. These skills and their characteristics, support literature on effective teachers’ involvement, ECTs’ general teaching skills and the principles of improvisation. We propose the ECTs’ Zone of Proximal Action is an adult-led zone, which exemplifies teachers’ potential action in supporting children’s play

Child development · Developmental psychology · Drama · Early childhood · Early childhood education · Faculty Development · Pedagogy · Preschool education · Professional development · Teacher education · Creative Drama in Education · Early Childhood Education and Development · Psychology · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

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