Bridge Over Troubled Water: Perspective Connections between Coping and Play in Children

Abstract

We propose that children’s play and coping strategies are connected. However, this connection has often been overlooked in the literature. To prove our hypothesis, the principal developmental functions of play are reviewed and compared with the different stages of the coping process. Our results show that coping and play are essential elements in child development, and indicate the presence of several overlapping areas where play and coping intersect. In spite of this, their interrelationship has seldom been examined. We explore the possible reasons for this omission with reference to the different natures of play and coping constructs, and also to the definitive psychometric and cognitive characteristics of most common coping measurement instruments. We conclude by proposing that play should be considered an elective form of coping in most aspects of children’s lives. We also propose that methods to measure coping in children should be improved and a more analogical approach should be adopted toward play to enable accurate recognition of coping.

‘Uncharted territory’: teachers’ perspectives on play in early childhood classrooms in Ireland during the pandemic

“…This suggests that ECE teachers are moving beyond play for learning within traditional curricular models and demonstrate widespread confidence and belief in its potential as a valuable tool to support children's social and emotional wellbeing following this worldwide crisis. Such beliefs strongly reflect best practice recommendations throughout the literature (Capurso and Ragni 2016;Marcelo and Yates 2014;Russ 2007;UNICEF 2018). However, only a small number of teachers (three in total) made reference to the role of play in supporting the wellbeing of children with additional needs.…”

“…Play has been described as 'nature's way of dealing with stress for children' (Elkind 1981, 197). Many researchers highlight the centrality of play in managing emotions and promoting children's resilience in the face of adversity (Capurso and Ragni 2016;Marcelo and Yates 2014;Russ 2007). This is especially true for those experiencing conflict and crises (Fearn and Howard 2012;Frost 2005) whereby, it provides a valuable escape during times of turmoil, offering a sense of normality and routine (UNICEF 2018).…”

Coping with the unfamiliar: How do children cope with hospitalization in relation to acute and/or critical illness? A qualitative metasynthesis

“…Coping and play are important factors in a child’s development and support the ability to adapt (Capurso and Ragni, 2016). Therefore, play is a fundamental part of children’s lives, and a natural ingredient when a child is ill and admitted to the hospital.…”

“…This is confirmed in the literature on developmental psychology, which states how infants’ and preschool- and school-aged children’s understanding and perception of illness is influenced by their cognitive and psychosocial capacity and skills, which influence their coping behavior in relation to their own illness (Erikson, 1993; Zimmer-Gembeck and Skinner, 2016). In addition, previous experiences of illness and the severity of the illness may have an impact on children’s understanding of their illness, affecting how they think about and act upon illness (Capurso and Pazzagli, 2016; Capurso and Ragni, 2016; Ryan-Wenger, 1996). It is essential to seek knowledge about children’s own experiences in order to adjust and manage their health care in the best possible way.…”

Zvládání předpojetí a jiných náročných situací u dětí a dospívajících s normální tělesnou hmotností a s nadváhou a obezitou

“…Wong, 2015) a pozornost by si zasloužily i některé další studie, pro jejichž uvedení nám již bohužel nezbyl prostor (např. Capurso & Ragni, 2016).…”