Social-emotional learning and skills development in pre-school aged children attending playgroup in Australia: A scoping review of the perceived benefits

Abstract

Play is fundamental to childhood development, fostering social skills and behaviours essential for school readiness in children. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the benefits of play and the social and emotional learning and skills development that occur in pre-school aged children (0–5) attending playgroups in Australia. The initial focus was on playgroups for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, but a dearth of literature meant that the scope was extended to all Australian playgroups. A methodological search of various databases was undertaken. Articles were included if they focused on the benefits of playgroup attendance and included first-person voice. Nine studies met the final inclusion criteria. Five studies were child-focused, and all nine focused on the general benefits of playgroups. A summary of the articles was compared to the wider literature. The findings suggest that playgroups provide valuable opportunities for children to develop age-appropriate skills and behaviours.