This study investigates the socialization process of children during cooperative group games played at kindergarten. Observation was conducted in one public kindergarten classroom for 5 months through 1 academic year. Twenty 5 year old children and th...
This study investigates the socialization process of children during cooperative group games played at kindergarten. Observation was conducted in one public kindergarten classroom for 5 months through 1 academic year. Twenty 5 year old children and their teacher were observed 15 times during cooperative group games which had been especially designed to increase children`s cooperative behaviors. Field notes and videotapes obtained throughout the observation period were analyzed via a three step process. The findings are as follows. The children`s cooperative behaviors were increased through the game activities. Specially children demonstrated and recognized prosocial behaviors in making rules, playing the main game, deciding winners or losers, and evaluating a games activity stages. Competitive behaviors, which were easily displayed in competitive team games, gradually decreased.