Contributions of Traditional Games and Toys to Children's Cultural Identity and Social Skill Development from Parents' Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15254353Keywords:
Child development, cultural transmission, local games, traditional toys, social skillsAbstract
This study examined the effects of local games and toys on children's social, emotional and physical development and their role in the cultural transmission process in line with the views of parents. A survey was conducted with 44 parents from different regions of Turkey with different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds using qualitative data collection method. The data were analysed by content analysis method and classified into themes. The findings show that traditional games develop children's creativity, empathy, social rules and teamwork skills. In addition, it was emphasised that these games strengthen friendship relations and reinforce cultural identity. The research suggests that local games and toys should be included in the education curriculum, promoted on digital platforms and exhibited and popularised at local festivals. In this way, it is aimed to protect cultural values and support the multidimensional development of children.
Downloads
References
Akar-Vural, Y. D. D., Akbulut, D. D. H., Erdal, A. G. E., & Güneş, Y. D. D. M. (2009). Child play and toy in two generations: “Upon a childhood history”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 18(2), 1–13.
Akay, R. (2017). Geleneksel çocuk oyunlarının çocuk gelişimine katkıları üzerine bir araştırma. Social Sciences Studies Journal (SSSJournal), 3(10), 153-164.
Altın, S. (2023). Geleneksel çocuk oyunlarının 60-72 aylık çocukların sosyal becerilerine etkisinin incelenmesi (Yüksek lisans tezi). Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü.
Atış Akyol, N., & Aşkar, N. (2022). Erken çocukluk döneminde 21. yüzyıl becerileri. Gazi Üniversitesi Gazi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 42(3), 2597-2629. https://doi.org/10.17152/gefad.1081472
Avşar, M. (2024). Sosyo-kültürel değişim ekseninde anadolu’da geleneksel oyuncak kültürü. Motif Akademi Halkbilimi Dergisi, 17(48), 1875-1893. https://doi.org/10.12981/mahder.1570757
Apriliani, E. I., & Wardani, A. (2024). Budaya Jawa dalam meningkatkan kesantunan bahasa anak usia dini: The effectiveness of traditional Javanese cultural games in enhancing language development. Jurnal Dunia Anak, 6(2), 355–362. https://doi.org/10.35473/ijec.v6i2.3341
Arnott, L., Palaiologou, I., & Gray, C. (2019). The role of traditional and digital play in children's social development. In Digital Play and Technologies in Early Childhood (p.85–98). Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780429027369-9
Aygen, M. (2019). Devlet eylemi olarak kamu politikaları: Avrupa Birliğine uyum sürecinde Türkiye’nin eğitim politikası. Firat University Journal of Social Sciences, 29(2), 259-276. https://doi.org/10.18069/firatsbed.555645
Bağcı, S. (2022). Okul öncesi dönemde çocukların fiziksel aktivitelerinin artırılmasında geleneksel oyunların rolü. Journal of Sustainable Education Studies, 3(2), 141-149. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/seader/issue/69730/1100764
Bansod, S., Ranade, P., & Verma, I. (2024). AI-integrated smart toy for enhancing cognitive, emotional, and motor skills in toddlers. In H. Sharma, V. Shrivastava, A. K. Tripathi, & L. Wang (Eds.), Communication and Intelligent Systems: ICCIS 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (s.265-275). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-2079-8_21
Benner, A. D., & Mistry, R. S. (2020). Child development during the COVID‐19 pandemic through a life course theory lens. Child Development Perspectives, 14(4), 236–243.
Berk, L. E. (2022). Infants, children, and adolescents. SAGE Publications.
Büyükkuru, M. (2023). Kültürel mirasın aktarımında dijital teknolojilerin kullanımı. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi SBE Dergisi, 13(İhtisaslaşma), 134-150. https://doi.org/10.30783/nevsosbilen.1309699
Cohen, D. (2018). The development of play. Routledge.
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2021). Eğitimde araştırma yöntemleri (Çev. Ed. E. Dinç & K. Kıroğlu). Pegem.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dauch, C., Imwalle, M., Ocasio, B., & Metz, A. E. (2018). The influence of the number of toys in the environment on toddlers' play. Infant Behavior and Development, 50, 78–87.
Fadilah, A., & Rahmah, A. A. (2024). Preservation of traditional games in learning activities at Al-Hidayah Source Secang Kindergarten. Proceedings of Annual International Conference on Research and Outcomes in Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(1), 366–374.
Fleer, M. (2017). Play in the early years. Cambridge University Press.
Gedikkaya, M. T., & Gedikkaya, F. G. (2019). Bilgisayar simülasyonlarının kamu politikaları (ve kamu yönetimi) öğretiminde kullanımı: democracy 3 örneği. Erciyes Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 33(46), 343-362. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/erusosbilder/issue/46591/527737
Ginsburg, K. R. (2007). American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications & American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182–191. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-2697
Isikoglu Erdogan, N., Johnson, J. E., & Dong, P. I. (2019). Do parents prefer digital play? Examination of parental preferences and beliefs in four nations. Early Childhood Education Journal, 47(5), 131–142.
İneç, Z. F. (2022). Kültürü sayısal bir ağa dönüştürmek: Türkiye geleneksel çocuk oyunları dijital atlası örneği. Iğdır Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi (30), 252-269. https://doi.org/10.54600/igdirsosbilder.1073068
Kanhadilok, P., & Watts, M. (2014). Adult play-learning: Observing informal family education at a science museum. Studies in the Education of Adults, 46(1), 23–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/02660830.2014.11661655
Kaya, M. F. (2019). İlkokul öğretim programlarının teknoloji entegrasyonu bakımından incelenmesi. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 20, 1063-1091. https://doi.org/10.17494/ogusbd.555122
Kılıç, Ç. (2016). Aile eğitim programları ve Türkiye’deki örnekleri. Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 10(1), 99-111. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/aibuefd/issue/1498/18128
Koyuncu, F., & Bulut, G.G. (2022). Geleneksel çocuk oyunlarının kültürlerarası etkileşimi. IBAD Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 12, 499-519.
Köse, F., & Tezcan Akmehmet, K. (2023). Türkiye’deki oyuncak müzelerinin SOKÜM’e yönelik eğitim etkinliklerinin incelenmesi. Journal of International Museum Education, 5, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.51637/jimuseumed.1220313
Lancy, D. F. (1996). Playing on the mother-ground: Cultural routines for children's development. Guilford Press.
Lindberg, E. N., Cingi, M. A., & Guzel, H. (2020). Analysis of traditional child plays based on child culture and child development. Journal of History Culture and Art Research, 9(4), 19. https://doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v9i4.2696
McLachlan, C., Fleer, M., & Edwards, S. (2018). Early childhood curriculum: Planning, assessment and implementation (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108131810
Montessori, M. (1912). The Montessori method: Scientific pedagogy as applied child education in "The Children's Houses", with additions and revisions by the author. (A. E. George, Trans.). Frederick A Stokes Company. https://doi.org/10.1037/13054-000
Merriam, S. B. (2009). Qualitative research: a guide to design and interpretation. Jos-sey-Bass.
Nakra, T. M. (2024). Constructing music: Musical explorations in creative coding. Oxford Scholarship Online.
Nuriddinova, G., & Ardıç Yetiş, Ş. (2024). Özbekistan somut olmayan kültürel miras unsurlarının turistik ürün olarak geliştirilmesinde alternatif öneriler. Safran Kültür ve Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 7(3), 448-468. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/saktad/issue/89268/1495110
Olcay, S. (2018). Sosyalleşmenin dijitalleşmesi olarak sosyal medya ve resimler arasında kaybolma bozukluğu: Photolurkıng. Yeni Medya Elektronik Dergisi, 2(2), 90-104. https://doi.org/10.17932/IAU.EJNM.25480200.2018.2/2.90-104
Özdemir, N. (2001). Teknolojik gelişmeler bağlamında Türkiye’deki çocuk oyunlarının incelenmesi. Erdem, 13(38), 411-423. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/erdem/issue/44398/549679
Özer, D., & Avcı, İ. B. (2015). Cartoons as educational tools and the presentation of cultural differences via cartoons. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 191, 418–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.355
Pekesen, M., Çelik, D., & Türkmen, A. (2021). Nesillerarası etkileşim kapsamında yaşlı yetişkinlerin çocuk kavramına ilişkin yaklaşımları ve metaforik algıları. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 18(42), 5250-5275. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.908380
Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. (M. Cook, Trans.). W. W. Norton & Co. https://doi.org/10.1037/11494-000
Rentzou, K., Slutsky, R., Gol-Guven, M., Kragh-Müller, G., Tuul, M., & Paz-Albo, J. (2023). A cross-cultural study on factors affecting children's agentic action in their play. International Journal of Early Childhood, 55(1), 89–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-022-00335-w
Sarıtunç, B. (2024). Yeniçağa ve çevresinin sosyo-kültürel yapısına ilişkin yapılan araştırmaların bibliyografyası. Journal of Humanities and Tourism Research, 14(4), 627-645. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/johut/issue/88591/1588842
Sümbüllü, Y. Z., & Altınışık, M. E. (2016). Geleneksel çocuk oyunlarının değerler eğitimi açısından önemi. Erzurum Teknik Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 1(2), 73-85.
Taylor, M. E., & Boyer, W. (2020). Play-based learning: Evidence-based research to improve children's learning experiences in the kindergarten classroom. Early Childhood Education Journal, 48(4), 343–352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-019-00989-7
Torres, P. E., Ulrich, P. I. N., Cucuiat, V., Cukurova, M., Fercovic De la Presa, M. C., Luckin, R., Carr, A., Dylan, T., Durrant, A., Vines, J., & Lawson, S. (2021). A systematic review of physical–digital play technology and developmentally relevant child behaviour. International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction, 30, Article 100323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2021.100323
Tracy, S. J. (2020). Qualitative research methods: collecting evidence, crafting analysis, communicating impact. John Wiley & Sons.
Vetere, F., Davis, H., Gibbs, M., & Howard, S. (2009). The Magic Box and Collage: Responding to the challenge of distributed intergenerational play. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 67(2), 165–178.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvjf9vz4
Yiğit, N., & Alat, K. (2022). Erken çocukluk dönemindeki çocukların dijital oyun oynama alışkanlıklarına ilişkin anne/baba görüşleri. E-Kafkas Journal of Educational Research, 9(3), 1026-1052. https://doi.org/10.30900/kafkasegt.1140899
Yiğit, N., & Mercan Uzun, E. (2022). Erken çocukluk dönemindeki çocukların dijital oyun oynama alışkanlıklarına ilişkin öğretmen görüşleri. Uluslararası Bilim ve Eğitim Dergisi, 5(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.47477/ubed.1030715
Zhao, X., Wente, A., Flecha, M. F., Galvan, D. S., & Gopnik, A. (2021). Culture moderates the relationship between self-control ability and free will beliefs in childhood. Cognition, 210, 104609.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Gülçin Güven- Öğr.Gör. Kadriye Efe Azkeskin- Seher Yumugan- Sümeyye Karagöz- Arda Eren Karakuş- Dilara Durlanık- Özge Bulguru (Yazar)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in Mentis Journal of Educational Research are made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This licensing framework is intended to support the widest possible dissemination and use of scholarly work while ensuring that authors receive appropriate credit for their contributions.
Under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license, users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, link to, and adapt the full texts of published articles for any lawful purpose, including commercial use, provided that proper attribution is given to the original author(s) and the source of publication. Any reuse must clearly acknowledge the authorship and include a reference to the original publication in Mentis Journal of Educational Research, along with a link to the license where applicable.
Authors retain full copyright of their work. By submitting and publishing in the journal, authors grant Mentis Journal of Educational Research a non-exclusive right to publish and disseminate the work as the original source of record. Authors are also encouraged to share and archive their published articles in institutional repositories, personal websites, and academic networking platforms, provided that appropriate citation to the journal is maintained.
This policy reflects the journal’s commitment to open access principles, fostering academic transparency, knowledge sharing, and the global accessibility of research outputs.