Play and culture: a study of English and Asian children
The investigation described in this paper examines the relevance of social factors to variations in preschool children's play behaviour. The research was carried out by direct observation in three virtually identical playbuses (obsolete buses converted to mobile play-centres) which catered for children below school age in different areas of Birmingham where the population was made up of a variety of ethnic and social class groups. English children from working- and middle-class backgrounds were observed, together with children from three ethnic groups — Sikh, Muslim and Hindu. The social group to which children belonged was associated with differences in the content and style of play. Membership of cultural and class groups appears to be beginning to differentiate children's behaviour patterns, motivations and social competences even at the preschool stage. Some of the reasons for this are discussed. It is suggested that understanding the influence of socio-cultural factors on behaviour could well be of i...