The purpose of the thesis is to determine which materials encourage language development during symbolic play, how often do children in the first age group engage in symbolic play, and how can the teacher influence speech development during this activity. The theoretical part defines play, focusing on symbolic play. It also describes the role of the preschool teacher during play and explores the speech of younger children during symbolic play.
The empirical part of the thesis examines which material encourages symbolic play and thus speech development in younger children, and how the presence of the teacher influences the way children play. A survey questionnaire was employed to find that structured materials perform better in encouraging both symbolic play and speech development in younger children. If the teacher is present, symbolic play lasts longer and involves more verbal language.
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