Preschoolers' Engineering Play Behaviors: Differences in Gender and Play Context

Researchers used observations of 66 preschool children's engagement with large lightweight blocks and more traditional play materials to describe preschoolers' “engineering play,” a new construct focused on early design- and construction-related thinking and behavior (Bairaktarova et al. 2011). The study explored engineering play and gender differences across three play contexts: traditional playground, dramatic play area, and the large blocks. Results showed no gender differences, but distinct context differences in the frequency of engineering play, with large blocks apparently offering more opportunities. More research is needed to explore the role of large, loose parts in early STEM-related play behavior.