보육시설의 흥미영역 계획을 위한 한국과 미국 유아놀이의 유형과 집중시간 비교

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the activity areas of day care centers, children's types of play and attention time between Korea and USA. Observation method was used for data collection. Eighty-three children, ages 38 to 62 months, were observed for five minutes, three times in total during an indoor free play period in Korea and USA in 2003 and 2004. The results of this study were as follows; the number and kinds of activity areas in Korean day care centers were fewer than USA, and the areas were also not physically well-defined. In cognitive play category, Korean children participated in more constructive play compared to American children who were involved in more functional, dramatic, and educational play. The cognitive play category became more diversified when the numbers of activity areas were increased. The play attention time of Korean children was shorter than American children's. In Korean day care center, as the floor space of the class increased, the play attention time was also increased. American children's play attention times were longer because the ratio of children to the number of activity areas in the classroom was lower. These findings suggest that when designing day care centers, the number and kinds activity areas in the classrooms should be increased.