Abstract: Learner’s classroom participation can be gauged by; confidence levels turn-taking, numeracy skills, manipulative competencies and task completion. However, over time, adequate inculcation of play as a strategy in early childhood classrooms is yet to be achieved. Bunyala sub-county notwithstanding. This underscored the need of this study. The study assessed public pre-primary school teachers’ use of play as a classroom teaching strategy: a case of Bunyala- Busia County, Kenya. The guide objective was: to explore public pre-primary school teachers’ preparedness in using play as a strategy on pre-schoolers’ classroom participation. A mixed methodology with descriptive survey design was adopted. Research targeted a population of 27 public pre-primary centres. Of this, 2 were used in piloting while in 25 actual study was conducted with a sample of 25 heads, 50 teachers and 100 pre-schoolers. The sampling techniques adopted were purposive and simple random. Data was collected using questionnaires and an observation guide. Reliability and validity of the instruments were addressed through piloting and test retest. Descriptive statistics for measures of central tendencies were applied. For qualitative data, content analysis was adopted. The study found that public pre-school teachers were not adequately armed with the necessary skills on play and that majority of them had general training on ECD matters but very minimal additional professional knowledge on play. The study recommended that ECDE teachers and care givers should be adequately prepared in terms of training, planning and organization in order for them to maximize their content delivery to the young ones.

Received September 24, 2020; Revised September 29, 2020; Accepted September 30, 2020

Abstract: This study purposed to examine teacher attitude towards utilization of play in teaching at ECDE centres in Nyamira County. ECDE aims at providing learning for developing a kid’s mental competences, confidence, physical growth, selfawareness and self-esteem. Studies have shown that play is rarely utilized in instructions and training in many ECDE centers in Kenya. This study assessed the Teachers attitude in utilization of lay in teaching at ECDE centres in Nyamira county. The objective of the study was: To examine teachers’ attitudes towards utilization of play in teaching at ECDE centres in Nyamira county; The study used questionnaires in collecting data. 120 sample size of respondents was chosen from the target population. Study piloting was done in one school to help in improving the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were utilized for data analysis. Quantitative data collected was coded and analyzed by the use of descriptive statics with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings were presented in tables. The outcomes of the study indicated that; 33% of teachers strongly believed that there was a need to use play in ECDE centers. On activities used in teaching, it was revealed that 44% of teachers supported play as a resource for ECDE learning and teaching. The research will be of great significance to KICD, the national government, and to the devolved governments in the country with regard to equipping ECDE centers appropriately.