Shifting Perspectives on Play for Development, to Play as a Right
Representations of Traveller Children as at Risk and Marginalised: Deficit & Culturist Discourses
Reconceptualization of Play as Situated - A Focus on the Factors Influencing Access to Play Opportunities
Methods
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Search Strategy
Data Extraction, Charting and Analysis
Results
Overview of Characteristics of Included Studies
Author, year, country, publication (alphabetical) | Relevance of study to Traveller children’s play. | Play Aim | Study design | Participants (Number) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boyle et al. (2018), Ireland, Encounters in Theory & History of Education. | Irish Traveller parents’ value for the social aspect of play-based learning and the importance of identity on belonging in Early Years settings. | No | Qualitative Interviews, Focus Group, Questionnaire. | Early Years Practitioners (29) & Parents (36) of children Aged 3–5 years. |
Boyle et al. (2020), Ireland, International Journal of Inclusive Education. | Irish Traveller parents’ experiences of racism in school including during play and the importance of respect for identity to social inclusion with peers. | No | Critical Qualitative Interview, Focus Group & Document Analysis. | Early Years Practitioners (29) & Parents (36) of children Aged 3–5 years. |
Brown (2012), U.K International Studies in Sociology of Education. | Irish Traveller child’s experiences of exclusion during school breaktimes. | No | Qualitative Case Study Interview & Observation. | Teachers, & Parents & Children (1 of 17)a aged 9–11 years. |
Brown (2017), U.K Children’s Geographies. | Irish Traveller child’s experience of peer interactions when moving schools and the importance yet lack of friendship and trust. | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview & Observation. | Children (1 of 5)a aged 11–12 years. |
Brunnberg and Visser-Schuurman (2015), Ireland, The International Journal of Children’s Rights. | Children identified as being in vulnerable situations, including Irish Traveller children’s awareness of rights including Article 31. | Part | Qualitative Focus Group. | Children\Youth (8–12) Aged 7–16 years. |
Cavalliero (2011), Ireland, Research West Review. | Irish Travellers experiences in rural schools including social interactions and racism during play. | No | Qualitative Interview. | Parents (15) & Youth (15) Aged 15–22 years. |
Cavaliero and Levinson (2019), Ireland, Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education. | Irish Traveller’s play with siblings, friendships and play in relation to the construction of identities in changing locations, in home and in school. | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview. | Adults (28). |
Cemlyn (2000), U.K, Child Abuse Review. | Social Work Provision for Traveller children including identification of play support needs. | No | Qualitative Mixed Exploratory Survey Document & Interviews. | Social Services Practitioners (73). |
Cudworth (2015), U.K., Power & Education. | Gypsy & Traveller children’s play in schoolyards and use of space. | No | Qualitative Ethnographic, Focus Group, Interview, Observation. | Teachers (24), Parents (5) & Children (6). |
Devine et al. (2008) Ireland, Race, Ethnicity & Education. | Irish primary school children’s experiences of racism during play and the significance of ethnic identity during children’s peer interactions. | No | Qualitative Fieldwork Group Interview Participatory Action. | Children (5 of 132)a aged 7–10 years. |
Devine and McGillicuddy (2019), Ireland, Gender & Education. | Irish Traveller children’s experiences of everyday life including play at home. | No | Qualitative Participatory Action Photovoice. | Children (17) Aged 9–13 years. |
Doyle et al. (2020), Ireland, The International Journal of Human Rights. | Irish Travellers experiences of exclusionary educational practices including during schoolyard play. | No | Qualitative Literature Analysis & Interviews with stakeholders. | Politicians, educators, interest group representatives (30). |
Fitzpatrick et al. (1997), Ireland, Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. | Irish Travellers completion of a community mothers programme including child development supports through play. | No | Quantitative Questionnaire. | Parents (39) of children Aged 8–32 months. |
Forkan (2006), Ireland, Youth Studies Ireland. | Irish Traveller children’s participation in schoolyard and afterschool activities and factors influencing disadvantage. | No | Qualitative Case Study Focus Group & Interviews. | Parents (10), Children (20) Aged 9–16 years & Teachers\Stakeholder (30). |
Gray and Donnelly (2013), Northern Ireland, International Journal of Early Years Education. | Traveller & non traveller mothers and children with autistic spectrum disorders daily experiences including of play and factors influencing play. | No | Qualitative Case Study Interview & Observation. | Parents (2) & Children (2) Aged 4–7 years. |
Greenfields and Smith (2010), U.K Housing Studies. | Gypsy & Traveller communities‘ adaptation to housing from a nomadic lifestyle including factors influencing play and social interactions. | No | Qualitative Review, Interviews & Focus Group | Youth (1 of 37)a aged 13–21 years. |
Hanafin et al. (2018), Ireland, Leading & Managing. | Irish Traveller parents experience of factors influencing early years participation including the recognition of cultural identity in toys and games. | Qualitative Focus Groups, Interviews, Questionnaire. | Early Years Practitioners (29), Parents (36) of Children Aged 3–5 years. | |
Hamilton et al. (2012), Northern Ireland, Race, Ethnicity & Education. | Social inclusion, schoolyard play, and access to afterschool activities in relation to educational provision to Irish Travellers in Northern Ireland | No | Qualitative Semi Structured Iinterviews. | Parents, Educational & Community Practitioners (29). |
Hurcombe et al. (2012), U.K, Ethnicity & Inequalities in Health & Social Care. | Irish Traveller’s collective supervision of children’s play, youth’s experiences of restrictions on access to community play\leisure opportunities and factors influencing drug and alcohol use. | No | Qualitative Interview Oral Life History. | Adults 10) & Health Professionals (2). |
Joyce (2015), Ireland, Irish Journal of Anthropology. | Irish Traveller youths‘ experiences of racial boundaries restricting spatial mobility and access to play\leisure\sports\social opportunities. | No | Qualitative Mapping & Focus groups. | Youth (18). |
Levinson and Sparkes (2003), U.K, British Journal of Sociology of Education. | Gypsy including Irish Traveller children’s performance of masculine identity during play at home and in school environments | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview & Observation. | Parents (50) & Children (47) Aged 7–16 years. |
Levinson and Sparkes (2004), U.K, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in education | Gypsy including Irish Traveller children’s spatial orientations and interactions during play within home and school environments | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview & Observation. | Parents (50) & Children (47) Aged 7–16 years. |
Levinson (2005), U.K. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography | Gypsy including Irish Traveller childrens’ orientations to play in different contexts and sociocultural interpretations of play patterns. | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview & Observation. | Parents (50) & Children (47) Aged 7–16 years. |
Levinson and Sparkes (2006), U.K, Research Papers in Education. | Gypsy including Irish Traveller children’s play and gender influences at the home school interface. | Yes | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview & Observation. | Parents (50) & Children (47) Aged 7–16 years. |
Levinson (2007), U.K. American Educational Research Journal. | Gypsy including Irish Traveller children’s play at home and in school in the context of attitudes towards literacy. | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview & Observation. | Parents (50) & Children (47) Aged 7–16 years. |
Levinson (2008), U.K, Research in Comparative & International Education. | Gypsy (incl)Irish Travellers play experiences and learning and identity at home and in school. | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Interview & Observation. | Parents (50) & Children (47) Aged 7–16 years. |
Mason and Broughton (2007) U.K, Social Policy & Society. | Play and leisure opportunities within an English social service for Gypsy\Traveller families identifying limitations and recommendations | Yes | Qualitative Service Evaluation. | Parents & Children. |
Monaghan and Gabe (2016), Ireland, Social Science & Medicine. | Children with asthmas including Traveller children’s‘ experience of physical activity, sport and play in relation to health identity. | No | Qualitative Explorative Interview. | Children (14 of 31)a aged 5–17 years. |
Myers et al. (2010), U.K, Race, Ethnicity & Education. | Gypsy and Traveller children’s’ play at home, school and after-school in the context of parents’ perceptions of education and social change. | No | Qualitative Interview. | Parents (10) & Education Practitioners (4). |
O’Sullivan et al. (2018), Ireland, European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. | Traveller children’s play at home and during a collaborative arts education project developed in partnership with Irish Traveller mothers. | Part | Mixed Qualitative. Participatory Action. | Artists (5) mothers (11) Children Aged 5 months – 3 3\4 years. |
Piazza (2014), U.K Discourse & Society. | Irish Traveller children’s play at home in the context of mothers’ conceptualizations of place and identity. | No | Qualitative Interview. | Adults (5) |
Rose (2013), Ireland International Journal of Inclusive Education. | Irish Traveller children’s engagement in art, craft, and outdoor play in the context of a family literacy home programme. | No | Qualitative Case Study Group Interview, Interview & Observation. | Literacy Practitioners (4) Parents (7) of children Aged 4–11 years. |
Smith and Ruston (2013), U.K, Sociology of Health & Illness. | Factors influencing Gypsy and Travellers play and use of community facilities in relation to health. | No | Qualitative Interview. | Adults (39). |
Vanderbeck (2009), U.K, ACME: An international E Journal for Critical Geographies. | Gypsy and Traveller experiences of a social service including playgroup, sports, and recreation activity programmes. | No | Qualitative Ethnographic Case Study Interview & Observation. | Youth & Community Work Practitioners. |
Van out 2011), Ireland, Critical Public Health. | Irish raveller youth’s exclusion from sports, community and peer group activities and drug use. | No | Qualitative Focus Group. | Adults (41) & Youth (16) Aged 17–20 years. |
Representations of Irish Traveller Children’s Play
Factors Influencing Irish Traveller Children’s Play Opportunities
Enabling | Restricting | |
---|---|---|
Society | Welcoming spaces\programmes. | Societal attitudes: racism. |
(Respectful of identity & culture). | Legislative restrictions on nomadism. | |
Legislative\policy rules in educational settings. | ||
Adults | Parents facilitating play. | Protectionist parenting - fear of racism, gender expectations. |
Collective supervision of children. | Dismissal of racism by services and negative perceived. characteristics and expectations of practitioners. | |
Intergenerational relationships. | ||
Peers | Being with Traveller peers\siblings. | Racism & exclusion in schoolyard & community facilities. |
Showing solidarity with each other. | ||
Environment | Access to safe outdoor spaces. | Limited access to community play\leisure opportunities. |
Unsafe outside space at home. | ||
Individual | Feeling a sense of belonging | Traveller identity due to racism. |
Ability to demonstrate competence. | Fear of bulling & racism. | |
Capacity to choose interests. | Fear of personal injury. | |
Ability to share identity. | Perceived denial of valued choices. |