Störa eller stötta? : En kvalitativ studie kring förskolebarns syn på pedagogers delaktighet i fri lek

This is a study that deals with the participation of educators in children's free play from the perspective of children. The aim of the study is to create a greater understanding of how children perceive the participation of educators in their free play. Are we interfering with it or supporting? The study also highlights previous research in the field of play and key concepts are highlighted and clarified. The collection of material has taken place through qualitative interviews with children in three different ways, group interviews, individual interviews and spontaneous conversations. The interviews have been recorded and transcribed. The data has been processed from a children’s perspective to make children’s thoughts visible and to be able to see the phenomenon of play and the participation of educators through their eyes. In the results section, the children’s thoughts about the pedagogues participation in their free play are made visible, the result also shows the children’s perceptions of the concept of play and what it means to them. The results of the study show that children's perceptions about their free play include the phenomenon of role play. A game that the educator does not participate in, only observes and supports when needed. Educators who play are unusual from the children's perspective and only happen in controlled games and activities. The results analysis then turns into a discussion that problematizes the children’s view of the teachers’ absent presence in their play based on previous research