UNDERSTANDING THE OCCUPATION OF PLAY: A MIDDLE EASTERN REVELATION A PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION INTO ARAB PARENTAL VALUES AND CHILDREN’S ENGAGEMENT IN PLAY IN KUWAIT

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  • Ahmad, Feddah Musaed
    • School of Medicine, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Abstract
  • Feddah Musaed Ahmad: Understanding the Occupation of Play: A Middle Eastern Revelation A Preliminary Exploration into Arab Parental Values and Children’s Engagement in Play in Kuwait (Under the direction of Ruth Humphry) The constructs and meanings of play in diverse cultures are insufficiently represented in research. As a result, researchers frequently misconstrue the cultural and ethnic differences observed in children's play, and therefore, misinterpret child behavior and trajectories for development. Individual development occurs within socio-cultural and historical contexts based on the experiences, beliefs, values, and expectations of a given cultural milieu. The purpose of this research study is to investigate parental expectations based on how they interpret and understand the effects of play on children in Arab regions. To provide this backdrop, this research study is based in a predominantly Muslim country influenced by its religious teaching (Maktabi, 2016; Wheeler, 2000). Making sense of how play is represented in this population will provide a foundation for further research into how play connects to child development. As an initial step, this study seeks to (a) understand Arab parents’ conceptualization of their children’s play based on their cultural values and expectations and (b) explore and observe Arab children’s play, engagement, and interactions. Adopting multiple qualitative techniques—conducting interviews with parents, using photo-elicited methods, and naturalistically observing children in school environments—will enrich the understanding of play as an occupation. The research study might generalize to Arab (Gulf) populations due to the many cultural values derived from Islam in this region. The findings revealed a variation in themes based on parental expectations and child observations. In both research phases it suggested that children are shaped by cultural practices, and play was regarded as a developmental process of coming to observe, interpret, and understand skills needed to improve adaptive functions in becoming a valuable adult in society.
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  • Humphry, Ruth
  • Bagatell, Nancy
  • Zhang, Wanqing
  • Wakeford, Linn
  • Nader, Mohammed
Degree
  • Doctor of Philosophy
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School
Graduation year
  • 2020
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