Nursery World - Best Practice: Cultural Perceptions of Play

At one setting in East London, parents of Bangladeshi descent showed a cultural and generational divide in attitudes towards play and gender, writes Caroline Vollans

It was noticed that some boys were more keen than others to play in the home corner

When a staff member at Sheringham Nursery School in Newham, London met informally with a number of parents to discuss their thoughts about play, she uncovered some interesting attitudes.

Special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo) Tania Choudhury works closely with parents and carers, encouraging their engagement with their children’s learning. She was born and raised in East London, her parents having migrated from Bangladesh in the early 1980s.

Tania’s discussions focused on the Bengali community in one small area of the London Borough of Newham. None of the participants represent the Bengali community per se, but all speak as individuals of Bangladeshi descent.

Of course, any discussion of cultural attitudes has to start with the premise that a culture is not a homogeneous group. There will always be differences and disparities among individuals and groups.

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