A Study on Teacher's Perceptions and Practice of the Early Childhood Classroom as Play space

놀이 공간으로써 유아교실에 대한 교사의 인식과 실천 연구

Objective: The purpose of this study is to find out how teachers organize and operate early childhood classroom, as play areas. Methods: Four teachers who had been aware of importance of play and were motivated to form an early childhood classroom as a play area were selected as research participants. Semi-structured interview and participatory observations were conducted to collected data. Results: The findings of the study are as follows. First, in regard to the role of the early childhood classroom as a play space, teachers supported the play of children and wanted to organize and operate the classroom as a play space. Second, as, play space, the teachers wanted to construct the space according to their own perception with children. Conclusion/Implications: The conclusions of this study are as follows. First, the teachers attempted to create play space by recognizing the contradictions that the classroom had. Second, the teacher organized the classroom into a play area and allowed the children to transform and create the space in their own.