Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Child Development
Department
Child Development
First Reader/Committee Chair
Morris, Stacy
Abstract
Parents play a critical role in supporting their child’s early development, yet many face barriers that limit their involvement in meaningful, developmentally supportive play—particularly dramatic play. Dramatic play supports children’s language, self-regulation, executive function, and emotional competence, but most existing interventions are school-based and teacher-focused. This creates an access gap for parents, especially those experiencing time, financial, or confidence-related challenges. The present project addresses this gap through the development and implementation of ParentsPlayCorner, an Instagram-based resource that promotes parent engagement in dramatic play at home. ParentsPlayCorner delivers accessible, research-informed content using Instagram. Weekly posts include Motivation Monday (play prompts), Wellness Wednesday (parent wellness support), Fun Fact Friday (research summaries), and 5 Minute Play Ideas (low-prep activities). These materials are sensitive to parent time constraints, socioeconomic diversity, and confidence levels. Live sessions and story features (e.g., polls, Q&A) foster community, provide modeling, and support parent learning through casual, digestible formats. Grounded in Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory and Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory, the project emphasizes adult scaffolding and symbolic play as critical tools for development. Evaluation is conducted using Instagram’s built-in tools. Pre- and post-evaluation polls assess parent beliefs, confidence, and frequency of play, while monthly polls and engagement metrics (e.g., story views, post saves, live attendance) track ongoing interaction and inform content adjustments. This project demonstrates how free, widely used digital platforms can promote equity in early childhood education by providing accessible, parent-centered support. ParentsPlayCorner aims to increase parent confidence, reduce barriers, and enhance children’s home play experiences. Its design and implementation offer a scalable model for future digital parenting interventions that foster joyful, developmentally supportive interactions.
Recommended Citation
Bakeer, Matty, "PARENT'S PLAY CORNER: A DRAMATIC PLAY RESOURCE FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN" (2025). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 2307.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/2307