The purpose of this study is to find out difference between the types of the playfulness and emotional competence of their sex. And this study is to find out the effect of playfulness on emotional competence of young children.
The subjects of study w...
The purpose of this study is to find out difference between the types of the playfulness and emotional competence of their sex. And this study is to find out the effect of playfulness on emotional competence of young children.
The subjects of study were 242 young children from 5 year old to 7 year old at five children's house and kindergartens located in Seoul City and Goyang City.
In order to measure playfulness of young children, the playfulness scale was used, which was developed by Barnett(1990). To measure emotional competence of young children, scale was used, which was developed by Woo, Soo-Kyeong and Kee, Young-Choi(2002).
The collected data was analyzed by the SAS statistical program. The frequency and percentage were calculated to investigate the general characteristics of the subjects. To investigate reliability and validity of the measuring instruments, Cronbach's α was calculated. t-test, Pearson's correlation and Multiple regression used to examine the results of the research tasks.
The results of this study were as follows.
The First, There was a meaningful difference in the playfulness of young child according to their sex. The girls' playfulness was higher than boys'. To see the content in detail, the cognitive spontaneity was highly appeared.
The Second, There was a meaningful difference in the emotional competence of young child according to their sex. The girls' emotional competence was higher than boys'. To see the content in detail, the emotional expression, emotional language, self emotional awareness, other emotional awareness and empathy were highly appeared.
The Third, playfulness influenced emotional competence of young children. In particular, young children's playfulness was more effective variable of emotional language and self emotional awareness than other emotional awareness and empathy.
The Fourth, boys' and girls' playfulness influenced emotional competence of young children. In boy's case, expression of joy and sense of humor were the most effective variable of emotional competence. In girls' case, cognitive spontaneity was the most effective variable of emotional competence.