Play space and learning materials as correlates of psychomotor skill development of nursery school pupils
Keywords:
Play Space, Learning Materials and Psychomotor Skill DevelopmentAbstract
This study was carried out to find out how play space and learning materials correlate with psychomotor skill development of nursery school pupils. Correlational research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Uyo Education Zone of Akwa Ibom State. The population of the study consisted of the all the nursery 2 pupils and their teachers in all the public pre-primary schools in Uyo Education Zone. Stratified and simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 400 nurseries 2 pupils and 80 teachers which was drawn from Uyo Education Zone as at the time of the study. This gave a total of 480 sample size used for the study. The instrument used in this study for data collection was a questionnaire titled "Play Space, Learning Materials and psychomotor skill development Questionnaire (PSLMPSDQ)". Face and content validation of the instrument was carried out by an expert in testing, measurement, and evaluation to ensure that the instrument has the accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness for the study under consideration. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.80, and this was high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The researcher subjected the data generated for this study to appropriate statistical techniques such as percentage analysis. The test for significance was done at 0.05 alpha levels. The study concluded that there is a significant relationship between instructional resources variables and the psychomotor skills development of nursery school pupils. The study revealed that each of the variables, such as play space and learning materials, teachers' use of the play-way method of instruction, and the types of activities that nursery school pupils are exposed to significantly relate to the development of psychomotor skills of nursery school pupils in the Uyo Education Zone. One of the recommendations made was that an open space should be provided within the school environment to enable the teachers to set up several play areas where the pupils can interact among themselves as it will enhance the development of psychomotor skills.
References
An open space should be provided within the school environment to enable the teachers to set up several play areas where the pupils can interact among themselves as it will enhance the development of psychomotor skills.
Local Education Authorities should visit schools in their areas regularly to ensure that adequate play space and various areas of interest are provided in all nursery schools.
Provision should be made in terms of learning materials for children to be physically engaged with their environment and enable them to use their muscles and skills.
