Abstract
The authors present research exploring how children played with new and novel digital devices introduced into their learning environment. The connection between children’s imaginative play and coding devices, in particular, a little beetle (Blu-Bot) and coding blocks (Cubelets) was examined in order to understand children’s relationships with each other and the devices themselves during play. The researchers explored the creativity, emotions and problem solving that appear during play. Consideration was given to how the culture of children’s local community permeated and became a significant part of their play. It emerged that children’s play can be imaginative and full of learning opportunities even when they play with materials that, if used in pre-scripted ways, can transform and control play and play behaviours. In other words, if children get a chance to play with these materials as with any other play objects, they use imagination and creativity to support and enrich their experience.
This research was carried out with a grant from the University of Akureyri Research Fund.
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Dýrfjörð, K., Hreiðarsdóttir, A.E. (2021). Digital Play Objects as Part of Preschool Children’s Imaginative Play. In: Holloway, D., Willson, M., Murcia, K., Archer, C., Stocco, F. (eds) Young Children’s Rights in a Digital World. Children’s Well-Being: Indicators and Research, vol 23. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65916-5_16
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