Development and validation of the free play and childhood engagement scale

A study conducted in Romania developed and psychometrically validated the Free Play and Childhood Engagement Scale (FPCE-S), an assessment tool designed to measure developmental and learning engagement during free play in early childhood education. The scale demonstrated strong statistical validity and reliability across a large sample of children aged 3-5 years.

Why it matters

The development of a validated tool like the FPCE-S provides a standardized method for assessing critical developmental and learning engagement during free play. This is significant for educators and policymakers seeking to understand and optimize early childhood education strategies globally, contributing to evidence-based practices.

Key insights

• The Free Play and Childhood Engagement Scale (FPCE-S) was developed to assess engagement in free play for children in early childhood education.
• The scale was tested on 3,577 children aged 3-5 years across 14 Romanian counties, with assessments conducted by 156 teachers.
• Statistical analyses confirmed high internal consistency of the FPCE-S.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the scale's internal structure and construct validity.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1907713