The Relationship Between the Cognitive Styles and Play Behaviours of Preschool Children

Abstract

Children's (n = 1276) cognitive style was identified and their play was observed and recorded. Reliability and validity estimates were obtained on the measures and procedures. A repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant results relating to the children's cognitive style and their play according to age. Also four significant interactions were found: (1) age and play behaviours; (2) play behaviours and cognitive style; (3) age and cognitive style; and (4) age, cognitive style and play behaviours. Significant differences were demonstrated between field dependent (FD) and field independent (FI) 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children's play behaviours in the physical, block, manipulative and dramatic forms of play. Most FD children displayed more play behaviours than did FI children. These results suggest that the FD and FI cognitive styles are providing a differential effect on the play behaviours of 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐year‐old children.