• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.497-506
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• 2004

This study examines the influence of early English education on children's bilingual language development to see whether the early exposure to English education affects children's competencies of both English and Korean. Based on this purpose, it attempts to examine whether it supports additive or subtractive bilingualism. The competencies of both English and Korean of the children with early English education were, therefore, compared with those of the children without it, and the relation between the two competencies was also studied. For this research, two different groups of children - one with 48 children who attend English kindergarten and the other with 60 children who attend only Korean kindergarten - took PPVT-R in Korean and in English each. The result shows that children with early English education have more English competency than those without it. No significant differences, however, are found in Korean competency between the two groups. The relation between the two competencies proves positive in children with early English education. It can thus be concluded that the effect of early English education is partially positive on children's language development, which may support the additive bilingualism that children's second language can improve without losing their native language competency. In addition, this result will be able to provide for us the direction and the guideline to the policy of foreign language education and early education.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.177-195
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early educator's psychological exhaustion and happiness on adapting ability of children in early education settings. Two hundred ten early educators and six hundred thirty children were selected as subjects of this study and were requested to participate in a survey. The results of this study were as follows: First, as a result of analyzing the relationship between early educator's psychological exhaustion and happiness as well as children's adaptability on education facility, higher psychological exhaustion and lower happiness were related to lower children's adaptability on education facility. Second, as a result of comparing comparative impact that psychological exhaustion and happiness has on children's adaptability on education facility, psychological exhaustion of the teacher impacts negatively on children's adaptability on education facility and happiness of the teacher did not significantly impact children's adaptability on education facility. This research is expected to be used as foundational data that helps to recognize the importance of psychological exhaustion and happiness of the teacher and could be used to develop various programs that support teachers to recover from burnout and to increase happiness.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.105-126
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to reveal pre-service early childhood teachers' perception of children's environmental education using concept mapping and demonstrating its importance. Methods: Based on Kane and Trochim's(2007) procedure, 33 pre-service early childhood teachers conducted brainstorming and statement writing, and then the importance of selected statements were rated by 202 pre-service early childhood teachers. Selected statements were analyzed through multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results: Pre-service early childhood teachers perceived children's environmental education as concept mapping with 2-dimensions and eight clusters. The following eight clusters were established (1) daily practice through hands on experience, (2) nature environment, (3) recognizing and coping with environmental issues, (4) environmental preservation practices, (5) environmental sensitivity and consideration, (6) purpose of children's environmental education, (7) necessity for children's environmental education (8) Practice through connection with child's home and community. And then among the eight clusters, the most important was recognized as 'daily practice through hands on experience', and among the statements 'young children learn through the method of playing in nature and experience nature' was considered the most important. Conclusion/Implications: Based on these results, we discuss the importance of children's environmental education of pre-service early childhood teachers and how to support to develop teacher's training program.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.209-221
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• 2009

The early childhood education in Korea has made a great progress during the last thirty years. However, understanding the early childhood education is a challenging task because of the diversity of the fields. Currently 38% of 3-5 year old children are enrolled in kindergarten. And several efforts to develop and distribute the standard curricula on a national level were underwent successfully. Researches are rapidly expanding in volume and the topics are becoming diverse. Focuses of researches moved from the area of cognitive development, science and mathematics in 80s, social and emotional aspects in 90s to language, curriculum and teacher education in 2000s. One of the emerging issues is the inclusion of kindergarten to public education system and free kindergarten education for young children. The second issues is more interdisciplinary policies are in need related to the low-birth rate in nation. The third one is about teacher training policy. The fourth one is related to the health, nutrition and safety of young children. And the fifth issue is moving educational system and policies that provide better future of young children while focusing on the children in low income families and children with absolute poverty.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-39
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to propose the direction of environmental education for early childhood children based on the environment-friendly life style and to improve the possibility of application of it at home and kindergarten. This study reviewed reflectively the early studies on the concepts of ecocentrism, the emerging process of it, the importance of environmental education for early childhood children based on the ecocentrism, and the practice of these kinds of education at home and kindergarten. The main concepts connected to the environment-friendly life style based on ecocentrism, that is, 'preservation of nature', 'interdepentence', 'wholeness', 'equilibrium' are the foundations of environmental education for early childhood children. When these kinds of concepts are considered, the aims of environmental education for early childhood children should be focused on the life style that attaches great importance to the symbiosis of human being and nature. The educational contents and methods in harmony with ecocentrism are as follows: The educational methods should be connected to the education based on ordinariness, the learning through adults' model, the family-community-centered activities, and ways of thinking of the unity of knowledge and conduct. And educational contents should include all of the life styles in clothes, food, and shelter. And the educational methods also should be connected to the education through joint working of children and teacher, play-centered education, activities considering ages and individual variations, and education connected home. And educational contents should include many different kinds of activities of experiencing nature outside home and kindergarten.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.78-95
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to define areas and standards of kindergarten teacher's competency through survey research and interview with early childhood education community - kindergarten teachers, vice principals, principals, administrators, parents, and professors in early childhood education. Raw data from 62 interviewees were grouped into 25 codes including 'professional knowledge about young children's developmental characteristics, and labeled for representative themes. Based on the result of interview analysis, two areas of 'knowledge and skill' area (15 standards) and 'attitude and grounding' area (20 standards) were classified, survey researched for appropriateness and relative importance of each standard. 704 members of early childhood education community were collected through stratified sampling. The research findings indicate that 'observation and evaluation ability for young children' and 'affection for young children' showed high appropriateness in 'knowledge and skill area' and 'attitude and grounding area', respectively. In the relative importance analysis, 'understanding of young children's development', 'understanding of curriculum for young children', and 'understanding of young children's behavioral problem and counseling' for knowledge and skill area, and 'respect for young children', 'affection for young children', responsibility', 'positive attitude' for attitude and grounding area showed high relative importance in order.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.161-175
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to develop proper early childhood information communication ethics education program and apply it to children based on previous researches and demands of early childhood teacher in order to protect children who remain defenseless in the information society. The draft was developed after analyzing previous research and survey of early childhood teachers' perception and demands on early childhood information communication ethics education. On the basis of the draft and the survey, the early childhood information communication ethics education program was developed after examining the adequacy of each item and subordinate areas which was conducted by early childhood professionals and applied 17 children. Moreover, early childhood information communication ethics attitude surveys were carried out before and after the program to obtain effects of the early childhood information communication ethics education program. The early childhood information communication ethics education program was effective. There was significant difference (t=-2.27, p<.05) of mean score between experiment group and control group.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.65-76
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to offer essential information related to early childhood education and care policy. Using the Korea Labor and Income Panel Study(KLIPS) Vol.5., this study analyzed sociodemographic factors that decide the use and type of institute for early childhood education and care. The following results are obtained： First, it is not easy for young children under three years old to use education and care institutes because of their preference for home care. Second, the mother's job status affects the child's use of child care centers and private institutes for education except for the using of early child education centers. Third, the affecting main factors for the use of child care centers are quite similar to critical factors for use of the private institute for education. Thus, young children using the private institute for education could be interpreted as coming from a low-income class compared with the children using the early child education centers.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.139-167
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• 2019

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of a learning cycle model-based early childhood education program using physical motion on young children's scientific inquiry ability, scientific attitude, object manipulation ability and spatial ability. Methods: The subjects of this study were 60 five-year-old children who were attending K-G City Childcare Center. The SPSS Window 21.0 program and content analysis method were used, and post-validation Tukey was conducted to examine the differences between the one-way ANOVA and the group. Results: Activities using body movement were practiced systematically based on the circle learning. Children could revise their pre-concept and concept of error by interacting with other children, teachers and the environment. Furthermore, children were attaining new knowledge while they were doing body movement activities, assessing and applying them to actual activities. Conclusion/Implications: This study is investigated a cyclic learning-based early childhood science education program using physical motion, which has significance in systematic and practical early childhood centered education for young children.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.35-47
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• 2011

The purpose of the current study is to investigate parents' understanding and needs for character education in early childhood and during elementary education and to suggest policy implications effective character education for young children. Using focus group interviews, we collected qualitative data from 14 mothers in Seoul, Korea. The mothers were unclear about the definition of character education for their children and about their role in teaching proper values during the early years of their children's development. Most mothers with preschoolers were satisfied with the character education their children were receiving, whereas mothers with children in elementary school were not satisfied with the character education provided by school. The mothers expressed their concerns about the reliability of the teachers and schools of their children. As policy implications, providing regular parent education, activating parent-teacher associations, and strengthening the partnership through support from the community are suggested.