The purpose of this study was to determine the differences of mothers' roles depending their demographic variables and the differences of preschoolers' playfulness and behavioral problems perceived by teachers depending on their demographic variables ...
The purpose of this study was to determine the differences of mothers' roles depending their demographic variables and the differences of preschoolers' playfulness and behavioral problems perceived by teachers depending on their demographic variables and thereby, analyze the factors affecting preschoolers' playfulness and behavioral problems perceived by teachers and the effects of their playfulness on their behavioral problems, and thereupon, suggest mothers' correct roles and explore the ways to encourage preschoolers to play and reduce their behavioral problems to help them grow in a healthy direction.
For this purpose, the following study points were set up;
1. Would mothers' parental roles and their preschoolers' playfulness & behavioral problems differ depending on children's demographic variables (gender, age, status in siblings, and period of experiencing the of early childhood education) and mothers' (age, academic background and job life)?
2. How would mothers' parental roles affect preschoolers' playfulness?
3. How would mothers' parental roles affect preschoolers' behavioral problems?
4. How would preschoolers' playfulness affect their behavioral problems?
In order to find answers to the above questions, the researcher sampled 377 preschoolers aged 3~6 attending 6 children's houses and 2 kindergartens in the districts of similar socio-economic background in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province as well as their mothers. In order to measure mothers' parental roles, the researcher used 'Parents' Parental Role Intelligence Scale' developed by Hyun Mi-sook (2004) and in order to assess preschoolers' playfulness, the researcher used 'Children's Playfulness Scale: CPS) produced by Barnett (1990, 1991) in reference to Lieberman's (1965) definition of playfulness and translated and modified by Kim Young-hee (1995). On the other hand, in order to assess preschoolers' behavioral problems, the researcher used the PBQ (The Preschool Behavior Questionnaire) produced by Behar and Stringfield (1974) for the preschoolers aged 3~6 and modified and complemented by Kim, Ja-sook (2000). The data collected from the survey were processed using the SPSS statistical program for Cronbach's alpha coefficients testing the reliability of the scale as well as for frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, T-test, one-way ANOVA, Duncan's ex post facto multiple range test and multiple regression analysis.
The results of this study can be summarized as follows;
First, mothers' parental roles as well as preschoolers' playfulness and behavioral problems differed significantly depending on each group's demographic variables.
Second, mothers' parental roles were found to affect preschoolers' playfulness. Namely, the better the mothers were controlling their preschoolers' behaviors, preschoolers were more spontaneous physically, and the more rational the mothers' authority was, preschoolers were more spontaneous socially. In addition, the more extreme the mothers' empowering attitude was, preschoolers expressed their pleasure less, and the more proper the mothers' control was, preschoolers expressed their pleasure more.
Third, mothers' parental roles were found to influence preschoolers' behavioral problems. Namely, the more rational the mothers' authority was, preschoolers showed less behavioral problems. And the more the mothers encouraged their preschoolers and the more they played a rational authority and the less they showed negative attitudes, preschoolers showed hostile and aggressive behaviors less, but the extremely more the mothers showed empowering attitudes, preschoolers tended more to be hyperactive and distracted.
Fourth, preschoolers' playfulness was found to affect their behavioral problems. Namely, the higher their physical spontaneousness and their sense of humor were and the lower their social and cognitive spontaneousness was, they showed more behavioral problems in general, and the higher their physical spontaneousness and sense of humor were and the lower their social spontaneousness was, they showed more hostile and aggressive behaviors. In addition, the higher the preschoolers' sense of humor was and the lower their social and cognitive spontaneousness was, their anxiety and apprehension levels were higher, and the higher their physical spontaneousness and sense of humor were and the lower their social and cognitive spontaneousness was, they were more hyperactive and distracted.