‘Playtime with Imena’: Exploring the Importance of Social Play for Children with Down Syndrome – Trisomy 21
| dc.contributor.author | Umuhoza, Lea Danae | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-07-11T19:24:38Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-07-11T19:24:38Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis, Playtime with Imena: Exploring the Importance of Social Play for Children with Down Syndrome – Trisomy 21, delves into the transformative role of structured social play in promoting the holistic development and social inclusion of children with Down syndrome. Inspired by personal experiences growing up alongside Imena, a beloved sibling with Down syndrome, and later volunteering at Tubiteho—a center for children with cognitive disabilities—this study intertwines lived insights with a robust Constructivist research paradigm. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, it investigates how the microsystems of family and school, supported by community and societal structures, collectively nurture developmental outcomes through social play. Employing a scoping review, this research synthesizes findings from diverse studies, revealing how structured social play enhances communication, social competence, and emotional resilience among children with Down syndrome. The thesis identifies a pressing need for culturally diverse, longitudinal studies and demonstrates the critical role of educator-family collaboration in maximizing the benefits of play. By examining digital tools as bridges between home and school environments, this study shows how real-time parent-teacher engagement amplifies the continuity of developmental support. The findings offer actionable recommendations for educators, families, and policymakers, advocating for inclusive, culturally sensitive play-based interventions that champion the developmental rights of children with Down syndrome. This work underscores the profound potential of structured play as a vehicle for growth, resilience, and social belonging, aiming to shape practices and policies that empower every child to thrive. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ec.msvu.ca/handle/10587/2344 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Mount Saint Vincent University | |
| dc.title | ‘Playtime with Imena’: Exploring the Importance of Social Play for Children with Down Syndrome – Trisomy 21 | |
| dc.type | Thesis |