Challenges faced + Socio-cultural background of a child

We started the session with the reading ritual followed by discussion on challenges faced in implementing play in the classroom. When we talk about integration of play in the classroom it is always easier said than done. Owing to the rigidity of the curriculum, diversity, mindset of the parents and educators, integration of play has always been unsuccessful in the school, which greatly affects the child's learning and development. Most educators and parents take play as wastage of time and disruptive. Even when integrating the play, it is always limited by time, context and diversity of students’ interests and needs, which make the integration challenging. All these limit the child's opportunity to learn freely.

Moreover, the social and cultural aspects of a children greatly influence the child's play and learning. In most schools, academic achievement is given more importance than play and that alone creates a pressure on teachers and students. Some children may also feel hesitant to participate in playful activities because of family expectations, language differences or cultural beliefs about discipline and learning. The different backgrounds, experiences, and interests of children in one classroom can also affect how they interact and engage during play. Therefore, teachers need to create an inclusive environment where every child feels accepted, valued and comfortable to participate.



As a educator, instead of seeing play as separate from learning, we can integrate small playful activities within lessons to make learning more engaging and meaningful. We can create opportunities for group work, storytelling, games and hands-on activities that support different learning needs and interests of children. At the same time, creating awareness among parents about the importance of play in children’s learning and development can help change their mindset gradually. Through small and consistent efforts, play can become a meaningful part of classroom learning rather than being seen as a distraction.


Comments

  1. Thinley pema22 May 2026 at 04:57

    Your point about play often being misunderstood as “wasting time” is very relevant, especially in academically focused school environments. During my teaching practices, i faced similar challenges as playing in the classroom and taking chilld outside are not allowing. As they are talking about disturbing other classes and worried that chilld's parents may complain.

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  2. Leki Om26 May 2026 at 08:24

    I agree with you, because bringing play into the classroom is definitely easier said than done when you're up against rigid schedules and parental skepticism. It’s also admirable of you to point out how a child’s cultural background influences their play; that's exactly the kind of awareness we need as future teachers.

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  3. Phuntsho Wangmo28 May 2026 at 21:10

    Your reflection shows a strong understanding of the challenges of implementing play-based learning and the influence of children’s socio-cultural backgrounds. You explained the issues clearly and connected them well to classroom practice and future teaching. The reflection is thoughtful, realistic, and solution-oriented. Overall, it demonstrates good critical thinking and awareness of inclusive education.

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