| Summary: | This study investigates whether what children make and/or create in the visual art area
of collage/construction is influenced by their gender and whether children's gender
makes them play differently. The purpose of the study was to discover the similarities
and/or differences with girls and boys play in the visual art area of
collage/construction.
Data was collected through the use of participant observer observations. The research
utilized anecdotal notes and narrative descriptions to describe the visual art work that
was undertaken by boys and girls playing at collage in a kindergarten. Data was
coded using organisational categories. They were, engagement in the process, subject
matter, talking about their work and the resources used. Once coded, data was
analysed from these.
Analysis revealed a tendency for both boys and girls to engage in stereotypical play in
relation to both the use of resources and the final products that they made. The
observation data showed a strong link between the boys' creations and risk taking
themes. Boys were also heavily influenced television inspired ideas. The girls were
more content with utilizing items that were readily available in the kindergarten, and
made items that were safe, which I interpreted as, objects they knew the teachers
would like. Findings indicate that boys can be helped to realize ways of being
creative in the curriculum area of visual arts. Providing new and varied resources,
that are of interest to boys and which enable them to risk take, will promote
participation and will also bring boys back to play themes on consecutive days. This study may be of interest to teachers wanting to achieve gender equity within an
early childhood setting. It suggests ways of making sure that the curriculum area of
collage/construction is enticing for boys as well as girls.
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