• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.41-48
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the environmental factors relating to children's outdoor play and to assess how the residential neighborhood is suitable for play in the perception of parents. Based on a citywide survey of 500 parents of elementary school students in grades 1-4 in Seoul, this empirical study shows that children's outdoor play environments in residential neighborhoods of Seoul have been observed to be overall unsuitable for play activity. Three physical environmental factors (spatial availability, neighborhood attractiveness, and street difficulties) and three social environmental factors (fear of crime, social interactions, and psychological comfort) are related to children's play activity. Five factors, with the exception of the psychological comfort factor, impact the suitability of children's outdoor play environment. Specifically, it is the physical environment, rather than the social environment, that was deemed unsuitable in spite of its impacts. These findings help us understand the current conditions of neighborhood play environments associated with children's play activity. It is necessary to improve parents' perceptions of the play environment and children's play activities by improving the physical environment.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.775-794
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• 2010

This study is to provided a basic model to encourage environment and outdoor play programs. The study was based on the analyses of actual activities performed in two child care centers in Daejeon area and the way in which the programs for outdoor play were related to the environment of the centers. Data were collected through 'The Daily Report of the Outdoor Play Programs: Plan and Evaluation' paper conducted at each center performed from 2007 to 2009. Following Mockwha Choi et al., (2007), the play observed and described by teachers was analyzed to classify play areas and play activities within each area. The places, equipment and, playthings using in each play period were also examined as well as the limitation and inspiration caused by the environment. The results of the study are as follows: 1) Empty and unfilled space tended to generate more types of non-structural play and role-pretend play 2)Adventurous play was rarely observed. More thoughtfully designed physical environments need to be provided for children to experience challenge and adventure through physical activities 3) Outdoor play environment should be suitable for the overall developments of infants and toddlers depending on their activities. A child care specialist should support the design such environment 4) Naturally, the programs of outdoor play will not be identical for all child care centers. Rather, they should go along with the programmatic characters and environmental attributes of each center. Therefore the awareness of teachers and parents as to the importance of must realize of outdoor play should be further increased.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-20
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• 2023

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the sequential mediation effects of creative home environment and preschoolers' playfulness on the relationship between mothers' play beliefs and preschoolers' happiness. Methods: The subjects of this study were 233 preschoolers between the ages of 3 and 5 and their mothers. Mothers were asked to complete a questionnaire that assessed their beliefs about play, the creative home environment they provided, as well as their child's playfulness and happiness. The data collected were analyzed using the SPSS Process Macro program to investigate the sequential mediating effects. Results: The study found that the mothers' play support beliefs were directly associated with their preschoolers' happiness. Additionally, the creative home environment was found to mediate the relationship between the mother's play beliefs and their preschooler's happiness. The children's playfulness was also identified as a mediator in the relationship between the mother's play beliefs and their preschooler's happiness. Furthermore, the findings of this study indicated that the relationship between the mother's play beliefs and preschoolers' happiness was sequentially mediated by the creative home environment and preschoolers' playfulness. Conclusion/Implications: Findings of this study provide insights into the potential development of a parent education program aimed at modifying mothers' play beliefs and the home environment.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2022

This study examined the relationships between teacher variables that improve the efficacy of the play teaching of infants and toddlers following a play-oriented curriculum. The participants were 287 infant teachers. The results were as follows. First, the independent variables had a significant effect on the efficacy of play teaching, teacher-infant interaction, and classroom environment. Second, the mediating effects of teacher-infant interaction and classroom environment on the effect of independent variables on the efficacy of play teaching were as follows. The interaction mediating effect between professionalism and play belief was significant, but teaching creativity was found to be significant. In the mediating effect of the classroom environment, expertise, play belief, and teaching creativity were found to be significant. Third, both teacher-infant interaction and the multimedia effect of the classroom environment were statistically significant in mediating the effect of independent variables on the efficacy of play teaching. These results provide basic data on the necessity for teacher education to explore ways to improve teachers' sense of efficacy in teaching play and their teaching skills.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.293-305
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• 2016

This study examines the mediation effect of teacher-child interactions in the process of the impact of teacher's teaching-efficacy on childhood education institutions and classroom environment on peer-play interactions. We used data from 970 children aged between 49 and 55 months and 970 homeroom teachers from the fifth Korean Child Panel (2012) of the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The model fitness was excellent after data were statistically analyzed with model of structure to testify the relationship and effect among teaching efficacy, classroom environment, teacher-child interactions, and peer-play interactions. First, the analysis also showed that the teacher's teaching efficacy did not influence peer-play interactions directly, but gave an indirect effect on the peer-play interactions with the mediation of the teacher-child interactions. Second, the classroom environment directly and indirectly influenced the peer-play interactions with the mediation of the teacher-child interactions. Third, the variable of teacher-child interactions was fully effective as a mediating variable in the process of the teaching efficacy and classroom environment influence on teacher-child interactions. Teaching efficacy and classroom environment influenced the peer-play interactions through the mediation of the teacher-child interactions. The significance of mediation effect of the teacher-child interactions was verified through a bootstrapping method.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.91-102
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between outdoor play environments and child's play behaviors. The data were collected by this study included field measurement survey, and non-participatory observation from 8 child care centers in Seoul. The field measurement survey were conducted from February 20 to March 20, 2005, whereas non-participatory behavior observation were conducted from June 15 to July 10, 2005. The major results showed the following. 1) Most of child care centers were too small, did not use the adequate surfacing to play various activities, and were made of play equipment setting. 2) Child's play behavior focused on functional play activity and construction play activity. 3) The relationship between outdoor play environments and child's play behaviors showed that small outside play environment with monotonous construction of play setting produced functional play behaviors on children. However, in some cases, despite the small and monotonous play area, diverse play behaviors were observed. These playgrounds at least differed from others in that they provided the place where multi purpose play was possible. This finding shows that multi purpose play areas can be an alternative in small playground environment.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.432-437
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between outdoor play environments and child's play behaviors. The data were collected by this study include field measurement survey, and non-participatory observation from 8 child care centers in Seoul. The field measurement survey were conducted from February 20 to March 20, 2005, whereas non-participatory behavior observation were conducted from June 15 to July 10, 2005. The major results showed the following. 1)Most of child care centers were too small, did not use the adequate surfacing to play various activities, and were made of play equipment setting. 2)Child's play behavior focused on functional play activity and construction play activity. 3)The relationship between outdoor play environments and child's play behaviors showed that small outside play environment with monotonous construction of play setting produced functional play behaviors on children. However, in some cases, despite the small and monotonous play area, diverse play behaviors were observed. These playgrounds at least differed from others in that they provided the place where multi purpose play was possible. This finding shows that multi purpose play areas can be an alternative in small playground environment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.286-294
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to determine what children's rights to play are. For this purpose, we extracted the core contents of schools' play environments and we developed a checklist that schools can use to evaluate their own play environments. We reviewed the UN Committee on the Rights of Children and the General Comments No. 17. Through this process, we found 16 core contents that the play environment should have. We conducted focus group interviews with children, parents and teachers, who are principle people involved with school play. The focus group interviews discussed the basic elements of the school play environment. The contents' validity was reviewed by a group of professionals. Based on this, we created an evaluation checklist with 10 major areas of the school play environment. The 10 areas of the school play environment evaluation scale are as follows. The ten areas of the play environment assessment scale for the school environment to ensure children's right to play are sufficient play time, sufficient play space, a child's best interests and the child's participation, nondiscrimination, diversity and freedom, challenge and adventure, safety, school policy, the play has an educating component, and community cooperation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Interior Design Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.247-250
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• 2008

As society and culture becomes complicated and diverse, so do the ensuing problems. The symptoms from the stress there was mainly focused on the adult group, however, now, they are shown in children. So the play therapy attracts attention as a way to cure stress. This study is intend to analysis an environment of play therapy space which would play an active role during treatment through the understanding of children's playing behavior. Disable children's playing therapy and pattern should be considered in the playing environmental design, and their feelings also need to be considered. The cozy and relaxed environment is important to children, so that they can have a natural interaction with the environment during the therapies. Output the factor of environment for play therapy and suggest the space of play therapy which fit on it.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.209-225
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to research the actual condition of environment and management of outdoor play at child care centers in Seoul, and to present a planning guideline for outdoor play environment. For this purpose, data were collected by a structured questionnaire and subjects were 164 directors of child care centers located in Seoul. The contents of the questionnaire were composed of general facts about the respondent and facility, environmental condition, managerial condition, and director's understanding about outdoor play. The data were then analyzed using the frequency, percentage, mean and crosstab. The major results have shown the following: 1) Most child care centers in Seoul had some space for outdoor play. 62% of them used front yard and 11 % a rooftop. 2) The space usually included fixed play instruments such as slide and complex unit structures, sand play area, and open area. It also had many natural elements as shrubs and earth. 3) 78% of the centers had a schedule for outdoor play. The schedule operates flexibly according to each center's own day schedule. Generally, a time for outdoor play was 21 to 30 minutes. 4) The directors of child care centers thought highly of outdoor play for it contributes to the balanced development of children. They answered that equipments and spaces, program devices, and teacher's understanding are some of the important factors for active outdoor play. 5) Most of them wanted wood-working area (construction activity area), water play area, and cages.