Preschool children's play that develops their attitudes for learning

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26380874
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Educational psychology
• Research Institution: Joetsu University of Education
• Principal Investigator: SUMIYA Shiori 上越教育大学, 大学院学校教育研究科, 准教授 (90345413)
• Research Collaborator: UMEKAWA Noriko ; KAMEYAMA Toru ; WATANABE Noriko
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 幼児教育 / 遊び込む / 幼小接続 / 学びに向かう力 / 創造性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined whether preschool children’s “totally-absorbed play” develops their attitudes for learning. From April 2013 to March 2016, teachers of a kindergarten used their practical knowledge to make a note of children’s free play every week and estimated them on a five point scale. They also answered a questionnaire about the children of their classes every January for three years. Three common key words were found for totally absorbed play: “being involved in,” “trial and error,” and “cooperation.” In the three years, those who frequently joined in “totally absorbed play” were found to have increased social skills, curiosity, foresight, and self-expression, which also helped in developing their cooperative problem-solving skills. Those who were often involved in the “totally-absorbed play” showed higher attitudes for learning. The first graders who had graduated from this kindergarten showed higher “creative thinking” and “curiosity and openness.”

Free Research Field

発達心理学