• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.93-110
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the early childhood education teacher's ability to implement play-centered curriculum that is recognized by an early childhood education expert based on an analysis of focus group interviews. Methods: Two professors of early childhood education, two directors of daycare centers, and two early childhood education teachers participated in the focus group interview. The interview was conducted three times. The interviewed data were categorized and compared. Results: The action competence of the play-centered curriculum required for early childhood teachers were categorized into the following categories; comprehending play, recognizing play, and practicing child-centered play. Detailed factor competencies were required for understanding play, reflective thinking, reading play, recording play, playing like a child, and supporting play. Conclusion/Implications: For actualizing play-centered curriculum, early childhood education teachers needed to comprehend, recognize, and practice for child's play. Furthermore, we discussed the necessity and direction of teacher education to improve the teacher's action competence for play-centered curriculum.

• Architectural research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2010

The main objective of this study is to investigate the perception, recognition and response of innovative/ self-initiated play and its correlation to play space and play environment understood by children in their middle childhood years. Play, play theory, and the acceptance of play have an important role in child development. In recent years, play and the importance of innovative/ self-initiated play have been associated with a number of important societal issues. The impact of play and/or lack of play during the developmental stages of childhood directly influence a child's ability to mature and adapt into society. In order to investigate the overall perceptions of play and play space among the average child in their middle childhood, a questionnaire survey was distributed and analyzed using SSPS 15.0. This survey was conducted within the site specific context of South Korea. Interestingly enough, the differences in the responses can be organized into three main categories: age, gender and housing type. In result different directions for further study and research for future play spaces and play environments that support innovated/ self-initiated play have been suggested.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-141
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate Pre-service early childhood teachers' perceptions and roles regarding young children's free play time. Methods: The study utilized the photovoice method and involved 21 pre-service early childhood teachers who expressed interest in participating. Participants were enrolled in an infants teaching methodology class in B city. The study involved four virtual meetings conducted via untact teams, and the automatic recordings of these meetings were transcribed for analysis. Results: The results revealed that pre-service early childhood teachers recognized young children's free play time as a period to enjoy full freedom, develop as the main agent of their lives, and express their imagination. Furthermore, pre-service early childhood teachers perceived their roles during young children's free play time as a specialist infant observer, a connector between play and learning, and a versatile supporter. Conclusion/Implications: The findings suggest the need for a systematic curriculum to provide pre-service early childhood teachers with a balanced perspective and awareness of the meaning of free play and teacher roles. The study highlights the importance of expanding pre-practice courses for observation of play and field-oriented curriculum for incumbent teachers.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.111-133
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• 2020

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.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.570-577
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• 2020

This study is aimed at figuring out the influence of early childhood teachers' playfulness and sensitivity on play teaching efficacy. The subjects of the study were 262 early childhood teachers working in kindergarten and day care centers located in J City. The instruments were the Adult Playfulness Scale, the Sensitivity Scale, and the Play Teaching Efficacy Scale. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS. In order to find out the general background of the early childhood teachers, frequency and percentage were used. In addition, in order to assess the relationships among playfulness, sensitivity, and the play teaching efficacy of an early childhood teacher, Pearson's correlation analysis was carried out. Lastly, for examination of the effects and a relative explanation of the effects of playfulness and sensitivity on play teaching efficacy in early childhood teachers, a multiple regression analysis was conducted. The results of this study are as follows. First, there was positive correlation among playfulness, sensitivity, and play teaching efficacy in the early childhood teacher. Second, play teaching efficacy of early childhood teachers was influenced by their playfulness and sensitivity. In conclusion, the significance of this study is that there was a significant correlation among playfulness, sensitivity, and play teaching efficacy in early childhood teachers, and that both of the first two variables were factors influencing play teaching efficacy.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2020

This study intended to analyze the early childhood education freshmen's academic interest. For this study relationship pre-service early childhood teacher's playfulness and play teaching efficacy. The study subjects were 145 early childhood education students in third grade at K-college in Deagu. They answered the survey regarding playfulness scale and play teaching efficacy scale. The collected data were analyzed by frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 18.0 program. The study finding are as follows. First, the average of playfulness and play teaching efficacy were near at the intermediate-level. Second, playfulness and play teaching efficacy were significantly correlated. Third, when examining the relative effect of pre-service early childhood teacher's playfulness on play teaching efficacy, cheerfulness and improvisation is influential factor in play teaching efficacy.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.35-51
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of early childhood teacher-led child-centered group play therapy on young children's sociability. The changes of sociability in the therapeutic process were also examined. Methods: The subjects of this study were 12 young children who were five years old and attended a child care center in Gangwon-do. Subjects were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received 15 early childhood teacher-led child-centered group play therapy sessions twice a week. The sociability scale was used for pre-post tests and the data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Every session was video-taped and recorded verbatim. Qualitative data were analyzed to examine changes in sociability. Results: Children who participated in the early childhood teacher-led child-centered group play therapy demonstrated significant improvement in sociability. During the therapy sessions, children's expressions and behaviors associated with sociability gradually increased. Conclusion/Implications: This study supports the use of early childhood teacher-led child-centered group play therapy as an effective intervention strategy for young children to improve their sociability.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.41-57
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of this study is to classify the personality types of early childhood teachers and examine the variations in teacher self-efficacy and play support based on these personality types. Methods: The subjects of this study consisted of 302 early childhood teachers responsible for children aged 3 to 5 years old. The collected data were analyzed using cluster analysis and analysis of covariance. Results: Early childhood teachers were categorized into four types: the "sensitive group" (29%), the "conservative group" (10%), the "passive group" (28%), and the "active group" (34%). Significant differences in mean scores were observed for teacher self-efficacy and play support across these personality types. Notably, the active group demonstrated the highest levels of both teacher self-efficacy and play support. Consequently, the active group emerged as the most effective and functional personality type among early childhood teachers. Conclusion/Implications: This study emphasized the significance of early childhood teachers' personality types in their teaching practices, underscoring the importance of developing in-service and pre-service teacher education programs that take into account these personality types.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the mediating effect of reflective thinking in the relationship between early childhood teachers' play-based curriculum implementation competences and their digital competences. Methods: An online survey was conducted targeting 330 early childhood teachers. Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and The Process macro model 4 were performed using SPSS 28.0 and The Process macro 4.1. Results: The main results of this study are outlined as follows: first, a significant positive correlation was observed between overall play-based curriculum implementation competences, reflective thinking, and digital competences, including each of their respective sub-factors. Second, the study revealed that reflective thinking played a partial mediating role in the relationship between early childhood teachers' play-based curriculum implementation competences and digital competences. Conclusion/Implications: Through this study, it was confirmed that when reflective thinking mediated play-based curriculum implementation competences, digital competences were further increased. The findings suggest that not only positive play-based curriculum implementation competences of teachers but also reflective thinking should be considered to enhance digital competences.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.87-117
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to develop a documentation model that can support early chlildhood learning through play and facilitate the implementation of early childhood and play-oriented curriculum. Methods: This study utilized the design and development research methodology to derive components for the model through literature review and investigation research. In addition, the model was gradually improved through the 3rd expert review, and the validity of the model was verified through usability evaluation with 10 early childhood teachers. Results: This study identified 13 components and developed a flexible, selective, repetitive, and cyclic documentation model based on the 2019 revised Nuri curriculum. Model development is embodied and presented as a model-detailed model-detailed content. The model is presented in detail in the study. Conclusion/Implications: The documentation model developed in this study is expected to provide guidance to early childhood teachers and serve as a basis for future research on documentation in early childhood education. It is expected that it will be able to present the practical direction of records for play support for teachers in the field.