ASSESSEMENT OF THE EFFECT OF STORY TELLING AND PLAY METHODS ON SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN SOME NURSERY SCHOOL PUPILS IN POTISKUM METROPOLIS YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the effect of storytelling and play methods   on social and cognitive development in some nursery school pupils in Potiskum Metropolis of Yobe state, Nigeria. During the academic year 2021/2022, this was carried. Individual interviews, group discussions, and other research methods were used to gather data. The study sample randomly selected nursery school pupils. The findings in this study showed that storytelling teaching method have effect on oral communication, on writing skill, reading skill and phonological skill development of nursery school pupils. Also, play teaching method have effect on oral communication skill, writing skill, reading skill and phonological skill development of nursery school pupils. It was concluded that through storytelling and playing nursery school pupils perform better and develop confidence in oral communication, reading skill, writing ability and phonological skill of language development and the Federal Government and early childhood teachers should tell pupils daily stories for approximately 10 minutes’ minimum to improve pupils' comprehension by using different methods such as puppets, storybooks, and story cards. State Government through the curriculum planners should incorporate storytelling and playing as a teaching strategy in the curriculum of nursery school pupils in Nigeria.