Intentions and Strategies of Children's Requests and Teacher's Responses

유아의 요구의도 및 전략과 교사의 반응전략

In this study of intentions and strategies of children's requests and teachers' responses, the subjects were 20 teachers and 610 4- and 5-year-old children in 10 kindergartens. Each teacher wore an audio-recorder and one-to-one interactions between teacher and child were audiotaped during a 40-minute free play session. Children made requests most frequently with the intention of getting attention; they also made requests for the purpose of seeking information. In making requests, children utilized various strategies including direct, indirect, and physical strategies. Furthermore, their strategies were dependent on intention. Teachers most frequently responded to children with the strategy of committed compliance. Results were discussed in terms of roles of active children and responsive teachers in forming and maintaining good teacher-child relationships.