A Study of Early Child Care Center Teachers' Attitudes for Meal and Snack Guidance between Sweden and Korea

스웨덴과 한국 유아교육기관 교사의 급식 지도 태도 비교 연구

The objective of this study was to compare early child care center teachers' attitudes for meal and snack guidance between Sweden and Korea. Participants were 251 early child care center teachers (Sweden: 134, Korea: 117) working in Goetebory, Sweden, and Seoul, Korea. The survey was conducted from December in 2003 to February in 2004. SPSS programme was used for statistical analysis. Sixty five point eight percent of the Korean early child care center teachers provided a certain amount of foods for children. But $20.9\%$ of Swedish provided a certain amount of foods for children, $79.1\%$ of them provided the amount a child wanted. Sixty one point seven percent of Korean teachers allowed a child leave foods on the plate, but $95.5\%$ of Swedish teachers asked a child eat all food on the plate. When a child didn't want to eat, $61.1\%$ of the Korean teachers fed him/her, but $11.0\%$ of the Swedish teachers did. Only $42.4\%$ of the Swedish teachers allowed a children eat sweets, but $92.9\%$ of Korean did. The Swedish teachers' perception for food guidance were eating by child himself/herself > washing hands before eating > having appropriate table manner > eating as talking with friends > not playing during the meal time, while the Korean teachers' was taking various food > having appropriate table manner > eating by child himself/herself, not playing during the meal time > washing hands before eating. The Swedish teachers thought 'eating as talking with friends' and 'eating by child himself/herself' is important, where as the Korean's did 'eating without making noise', 'not playing during the mealtime' in the eating behavior. For 'brushing teeth after meal' the Swedish teachers' score (1.5) was lower than the Korean (4.2). The results is necessary to improve meal and snack guidance for Korean early child care center teachers' education.