The Effects of Children's Rights and Democracy Education on Children's Democratic Behaviors

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of early childhood Children's Rights and Democracy Education on children's democratic behaviors. The study group consisted of a total of 53 children (28 experimental, 25 control) aged between 60-72 months, who were attending two kindergartens affiliated with the Directorate of National Education in Kayseri. The study used the quantitative research method of pretest/posttest and control group quasi-experimental design. Data were collected by using the Democratic Behavior Scale developed by the researcher.The findings showed that while no significant difference existed between the pretest scores of the experimental and control groups prior to Children's Rights and Democracy Education, the posttest mean scores of the experimental group increased significantly after the training as compared to the control group. In addition, learning was shown to be permanent by the results of a retention test given to the experimental group one month after the program ended. The results showed that the children who participated in the Children's Rights and Democracy Education program displayed higher and more permanent development than the control children in the democratic behavior, autonomous behavior, and knowing one's rights subdimensions of the Democratic Behavior Scale.