The Relationship Between Cognitive Styles and Play Behaviour of 5–6 Years Old Kindergarden Children

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The purpose of the research is to investigate the relationship between cognitive style and observed behaviour which according to cognitive and social play classification 5-6 years old children. The sample were 30 children who were 5-6 years of age, 19 girls, 11 boys. Pearson correlation's were (r) used to investigate the relationship between cognitive style of children and frequency of play; level of communication ability and leadership characters. In order to see the difference between field dependent / independent cognitive styles children in term of their frequencies of play; level of communication ability and leadership characters Mann Whitney U test has been used. Moreover, to see the difference between dependent / independent children in term of social play Kruskal Wallis H test has been used. No significant differences were found between field dependent/independent children in the measures of frequencies of play, level of communication ability and leadership characters, children in the study were 5-6 years old who mostly engage dramatic play due to their developmental characteristics.Keyword: Kindergarden children, cognitive style, play * Assist.Prof. Baskent University, Faculty of Education, neslihanguney@yahoo.com Neslihan GÜNEY KARAMAN 164 SUMMARY Purpose and Significance:The aim of the research is to investigate the relationship between cognitive style and observed cognitive and social behaviour of 5-6 years old children. Play is not only playful for children it is also one of the most important factors of emotional, social and cognitive development. Cognitive style of children provides insight about social relationships and their play behaviour which is very important part of their live as well. This research is a descriptive study on investigate the relationship between cognitive style and play behaviour of 5-6 years kindergarten children. The variables in the research are cognitive styles, play categories, and play behaviours in each play category and social play.Methods: The sample was consisted of a total of 30 children (19 girls, 11 boys) within age range 5-6 years. The mean age of the group was 5 years 7 months.In this research for cognitive style "Children's Embedded Figures Test" has been used. Children's Embedded Figures Test consisted of 25 items: an 11 item tent series in which a cut-out simple figure resembling a tent was embedded in a complex stimulus figure; and a 14 item house series in which a cut -out simple figure resembling a house had to be found in the complex stimulus figure. "Play Rating Scale" has been developed in order to be able to observe children's play behaviour. Play Rating Scale indicates children's play behaviours in the physical, block, manipulative and dramatic play areas which include four subscales. Each play category consists as: a) children's frequency of play, b) communication of ideas, c) levels of socialization, d) leadership proficiency.Two observes provided r: 0.87 coherence between independent observes which an indicator of reliability is. Observ...

The Predictive Power of Preschool Children’s Social Behaviors on Their Play Skills

“…When the literature is reviewed, many studies have been conducted on the relationship between children's play behaviors and their cognitive skills (e.g. Bergen, 2002;Guney-Karaman, 2009;Peisach & Hardeman, 1985;Saracho, 1995;Sener, 1996;Yilmaz, 2006), language skills and communication skills (e.g. Craig-Unkefer & Kaiser, 2002;Kurudayioglu, 2003;McLoyd, 1980;Toret, Ozdemir, Selimoglu & Ozkubat, 2014;Suhonen, Nislin, Alijoki & Sajaniemi, 2015).…”