The effects of educational play, play in math center and digital play on the mathematics and self-regulated learning skills of children

The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of digital play, educational play and play in the math center on children's math and self-regulated learning skills. The research was designed according to the quasi-experimental research design with pretest-posttest control group. The study group of the research consists of 147 children aged 60-72 months who attend 4 different kindergartens located in the lower and middle socio-economic region of Burdur province, affiliated to the provincial directorate of national education. The research was conducted for 10 weeks, 3 days a week in randomly selected experimental and control groups. In addition to the existing curriculum, Educational Mathematics Play Program was implemented in Experimental Group 1, Play Program in Mathematics Center in Experimental Group 2, Digital Mathematics Play Program in Experimental Group 3. The TEMA3 test and Children Independent Learning Development Checklist 3-5 (CHILD 3-5): Data were analyzed with the related samples t-test and mixed ANOVA. The results obtained from the study show that there is a statistically significant difference in mathematics and self-regulation skill scores in all groups. In addition, there is a statistically significant difference between the mathematic post- test scores of the children participating in the Educational Mathematics Play Program and Play Program in Mathematics Center in favor the children participating in Educational Mathematics Play Program and Play Program in Mathematics Center between the post-test scores of the children in the experimental group 3 and control group. Similarly, there is a statistically significant difference between the CHILD 3-5 post-test scores of the children participed in Educational Mathematics Play Program and Play Program in Mathematics Center and the CHILD 3-5 post test score of the children in the Digital Math Play Program and control group in favor the children participed Educational Mathematics Play Program and Play Program in Mathematics Center. The results are discussed within the framework of the revelant literature and the role of the teacher in the play and children's math and self-regulated learning skills.