Developing Computational Thinking Abilities in the Early Years Using Guided Play Activities
Abstract
1. Introduction
1.1. What Is Computational Thinking?
1.2. Teaching and Assessing Computational Thinking in Young Children
1.3. The Present Study
1.4. Research Questions
- 1.
- Were the tasks appropriate for the ages and abilities of the children and allow scaffolding of learning?
- 2.
- Did the children’s behaviour and explanations demonstrate evidence of emerging CT abilities?
2. Methods and Materials
2.1. Design
2.2. Participants
2.3. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent
2.4. Materials and Activity
2.5. Quantitative Data Analysis
2.6. Qualitative Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Task A
3.2. Task B
3.3. Examples of Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
4. Discussion
Limitations and Implications
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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EYFS Framework: Three Prime Early Learning Goals | Basics of CT Abilities That Can Be Taught at Preschool |
---|---|
Communication and language | Evaluating, deconstructing and debugging: Interactions with others; self-commentary; listening *; commenting *; asking questions; answering questions *; language development; vocabulary development * |
Physical | Evaluating and sequencing algorithmic codes: Directionality *; sequences of movement; fine motor skills * |
PSE | Evaluating and debugging: Friendships; interpersonal skills; modelling actions *, language and behaviour *; appropriate reactions *; celebrating * achievements |
Other subjects: | |
Mathematics | Deconstructing, sequencing and debugging algorithmic codes Ordering and sequencing *, pattern making |
Understanding the world | Communication and collaboration: Widen personal experiences *; language development * |
CT Skills and Activities | |
---|---|
Hello session Introduction to task A | Communication and collaboration: The children and researchers all say hello and tell everyone their names. One of the researchers introduces the main topic of the children’s task, showing pictures or physical materials and discussing with the children the nature of the activity. |
Task A Familiarisation of task | Scaffolding provided to develop CT skills of deconstruction, evaluation, and language development (vocabulary, listening and answering questions): Children were asked to identify six correct items/pictures from a selection of 12 on a work sheet. The other six items were distractors. Each child had their own worksheet to circle the correct items, and either leave unmarked or cross out the incorrect items. A number of children were interviewed regarding their choices and to encourage debugging if there were errors. |
Introduction to Task B Demonstration of activity | Scaffolding to develop CT skills of ordering, sequencing and directionality, language development (listening, commenting, answering questions) and fine motor skills: Children were shown an activity and asked questions about the task inviting their comments and suggestions. The children also took part in these activities, either by physically engaging in the task as a group, or by individually making something. |
Task B Children apply activity | Scaffolding to demonstrate CT skills of ordering, sequencing and directionality, modelling actions, language development (listening, commenting, answering questions) and fine motor skills: Children were asked to apply their understanding of the activity previously demonstrated, comprising a pattern matching/sequencing task in session 1 and sequencing/ordering tasks in sessions 2–6. Children were interviewed by the researchers as they completed their worksheets to find out if they understood the activity, could explain it and could debug any errors. |
Sessions | Themes | Equipment/Images |
---|---|---|
1 | Wrapping a birthday present (pre-test) | Images for Task A: (correct) wrapping paper; pencil/pen; sticky tape; scissors; label; box (containing the present). Distractors: rubber bands; envelopes; doll; car; carrier bag, balloons. Task B: Pattern matching; continuing patterns: star- and circular-shaped stickers, worksheet with patterns to be copied or continued. |
2 | Forest School uniform | Task A: Images: (correct) trousers; wellingtons; vest and pants; socks; coat, hat, scarf and gloves. Distractors: umbrella; torch; sun-hat; sunglasses; sandals; handbag (see Figure 1). Task B: Six-box grid, six pictures: underwear; socks; jumper and trousers; coat; boots; hat, scarf and gloves. |
3 | Forest School map | Task A: Map of the Forest School Images: (correct) firepit; shed; birdbox; tree; arch; logs. Distractors: duck pond; candles, pot with flowers, swing, see-saw. Task B: Six-box grid, six pictures: archway, shed, tree, birdhouse, log, pile of leaves; map of route. |
4 | Icing a biscuit | Task A: Images: (correct) bowl; spoons; icing sugar; jug of water; biscuit; knife. Distractors: Plastic beaker; cupcake cases; rolling pin; egg whisk; biscuit cutter; tea strainer. Task B: Six-box grid, six pictures: spoon icing sugar in bowl; pour water in bowl, stir together; spoon icing on biscuit; spread icing; add chocolate heart. |
5 | Father Christmas outfit | Task A: Large picture of Father Christmas with cut-out clothes. Images: (correct) dungarees, jacket, jumper, hat, boots, sack of toys Distractors: fairy wings, woolly hat, sandals, Christmas tree; bells; sunglasses. Task B: Six-box grid, six pictures: jumper; dungarees; jacket and belt; hat; boots; sack of toys. |
6 | Wrapping a Christmas present | Task A: (correct) wrapping paper; pencil/pen; sticky tape; scissors; gift label; box (present). Distractors: rubber bands; envelopes; doll; car; carrier bag, balloons. Task B: Six-box grid, six pictures: box on paper; wrapped box in paper; using sticky tape; writing a label; sticking on a label; wrapped parcel. |
Session 1 Birthday Present | Session 2 Forest School Uniform | Session 3 Forest School Map | Session 4 Icing Biscuits | Session 5 Father Christmas Outfit | Session 6 Christmas Present | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of children | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Task A Correct/6 | ||||||
Mean | 4.77 | 5.77 | 5.85 | 5.23 | 4.92 | 5.62 |
Standard Deviation | 1.36 | 1.39 | 0.56 | 1.16 | 0.86 | 0.51 |
Minimum | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Maximum | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
No. of children maximum score | 7 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Task A Distraction/6 | ||||||
Mean | 1.38 | 3.54 | 5.46 | 4.69 | 5.62 | 5.23 |
Standard Deviation | 2.1 | 2.8 | 0.88 | 1.37 | 0.51 | 1.23 |
Minimum | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Maximum | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
No. of children max score | 3 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 10 |
Researcher Questions | Emma’s Responses |
---|---|
(Points to the sun-hat) I wear a hat | |
Do you wear that kind of hat in the winter? | (Circles the sun-hat) Yes |
(Points to the sandals) Do you wear sandals in Forest School? | Yes |
What, even in the winter? | Yes (circles the sandals) |
(Points to the handbag) Would you wear that bag? | No, I have a little bag. |
But would you wear this bag? (Points to the picture) | I’ve got a little bag though. (Circles the picture) |
Session 1: Pattern Matching | Session 2: Forest School Uniform | Session 3: Henry Hedgehog Route | Session 4: Icing Biscuits | Session 5: Father Christmas Outfit | Session 6: Wrapping a Christmas Present | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. of children | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Mean | 3.82 | 3.36 | 6.0 | 4.36 | 3.27 | 4.27 |
Standard Deviation | 1.78 | 2.1 | 0 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
Minimum | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Maximum | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
No. of children with 6 correct answers | 1 | 5 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 7 |
Researcher’s Questions | Lee’s Responses |
---|---|
You have put Father Christmas’s hat first. Do you think that’s right? | Yes (miming putting on a hat) |
But could he put his jumper on over his hat? | Yeah, he could put on… (mimed putting on the jumper) |
Do you put your hat on before you put your clothes on in the morning? | But I don’t have a hat |
So, you think that Father Christmas puts his hat on first? | Yeah |
Do you think that Father Christmas puts his jumper on over or under his dungarees? | Under his dungarees |
But you have got it over (points to picture code). Do you want to change it? | Yeah |
Researcher’s Questions | Aalifa’s Responses |
---|---|
What’s happening in the picture? | (Points to the first picture) On the paper. (Points to the second picture) Putting on the paper. |
Wrapping the paper round? | (Pointing to the third picture) Putting the sticky tape on. |
Putting the sticky tape on? | (points to the fourth picture) Writing the label. |
(Pointing to Pictures 5 and 6) Look, you’ve got the label on here, but here you are sticking it. Which way round is it? | (Gestured the correct way round) |
Do you want to change that? You can pull it off (the picture) and change that if you want. | No, I don’t want to. |
Why don’t you want to? | I just don’t want to. |
OK, that’s fine. Well done! |
Researcher | Soran |
---|---|
Points to Picture 1 Hello Soran. Tell me what is happening in your pictures. What is that in the box? (prompts) S……. | Soran points to the first picture but does not say anything. Shrugs his shoulders. Sugar |
Points to Picture 2 What are you putting in the bowl? (prompts) Is it milk? | Says nothing, shrugs his shoulders. No. Water. |
Points to Picture 3 And then what did we do? Gestures stirring. Stirring? Stirred | Gestures stirring. Stirred it. |
Points to Picture 4 And then here, putting icing on the ….? (prompts) Bis…. | Shrugs Biscuit |
Points to Picture 5 What’s happening here? Wiping? Spreading? | Gestures spreading the icing Spreading |
Points to Picture 6 And then what are you doing here? | Put that on it (points to the chocolate heart). |
That’s really good thinking Soran, well done! | Big smile and runs off. |
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Critten, V.; Hagon, H.; Critten, S.; Messer, D. Developing Computational Thinking Abilities in the Early Years Using Guided Play Activities. Educ. Sci. 2025, 15, 1298. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15101298
Critten V, Hagon H, Critten S, Messer D. Developing Computational Thinking Abilities in the Early Years Using Guided Play Activities. Education Sciences. 2025; 15(10):1298. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15101298
Chicago/Turabian StyleCritten, Valerie, Hannah Hagon, Sarah Critten, and David Messer. 2025. "Developing Computational Thinking Abilities in the Early Years Using Guided Play Activities" Education Sciences 15, no. 10: 1298. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15101298
APA StyleCritten, V., Hagon, H., Critten, S., & Messer, D. (2025). Developing Computational Thinking Abilities in the Early Years Using Guided Play Activities. Education Sciences, 15(10), 1298. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15101298