• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.385-393
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of forest activities on the cortisol concentrations in the body and emotional vocabulary of kindergarteners. The participants were 36 kindergarten children aged 4-5, 17 in the control group and 19 in the experimental group. Forest activities consisted of six steps according to the level of kindergarteners, and the program was carried out at G City Environment Training Institute. Before and after the experiment, the children's emotional vocabulary was self-reported and salivary cortisol was analyzed to evaluate changes in the body's stress hormones. As a result, in the control group, positive words increased significantly from 0.14 to 1.53 (p=.003), but the decrease in negative words was not significant (p=.059). In the experimental group, positive words increased significantly from 0.47 to 2.84 after forest activities (p=.000). Negative words decreased significantly from 1.94 to 0.00 after forest activities (p=.000). In the analysis of salivary cortisol, the change in salivary cortisol concentrations was not significant (p=.667) in the control group, merely decreasing from 0.179 ㎍/dl to 0.161 ㎍/dl. However, the experimental group showed a significant decrease from 0.202 ㎍/dl to 0.161 ㎍/dl after forest activities (p=.049). These results suggest that forest play activities may be helpful in encouraging young children's emotional development by increasing positive vocabulary and decreasing negative vocabulary and reducing stress in kindergarteners.

• Korean Journal of Play Therapy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.491-507
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to validate the Play Participation Attitude Scale for parents of preschoolers, which was developed by the Delphi survey. 447 parents of 9 daycare centers in Seoul and Incheon were recruited for this study and, finally, data from 339 parents were used to perform exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and reliability analysis. The results of the study are as follows. First, factor analyses revealed that the global fit of the sensitively play (7 items), responsively play (6 items), and delightfully play(7 items) three-factor model was good. Second, the internal consistency of the Play Participation Attitude Scale was good. Third, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the current scale and the parents' playfulness scale, indicating concurrent validity. Finally, higher scores of the Play Participation Attitude Scale and its three factors significantly predicted lower scores of parenting stress and higher scores of the preschoolers' self-control ability. These findings revealed that this new measure to be both valid and reliable and specifically suggests what kind of attitude is appropriate for parents to adopt when participating in preschoolers' play.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.646-654
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• 2020

Objectives: Users of parks or children's play facilities have pointed to pets' bowel movements as the most serious problem when using them. In prior studies, a very low detection rate of parasites (eggs) in sand flooring materials has been found. Even though feces have been identified, no parasites (eggs) have been detected. Method: A standard solution of nitrate nitrogen was used to verify the reliability of a new nitrogen analysis method. The linearity, precision, and accuracy of the nitrate nitrogen analysis method were verified. Using this method, the pollution distribution of the sand flooring material and the degree of pollution at each point were investigated. Results: As a result of the verification of the nitrogen analysis method, the linearity was found to be good at r2=0.999 when distilled water is mixed in a standard substance solution. The standard substance additive solution r2=0.968 was found to be good. Precision represented 0.01 to 0.06% RSD for peak height. The recovery rate was 92.4 to 104.0 percent, indicating high accuracy. According to the same method of analysis, the flooring material sand at a general amusement facility with the largest number of concealed spaces was nitrate nitrogen 6.1 times higher than at the entrance of the playground. Also, in a comparison between clean sand and sandy flooring, the average nitrogen concentration of the sand flooring material was 24.4-167 times higher than pure sand. Conclusions: As such, no parasites (eggs) were detected at all points under investigation, but the sand flooring was exposed to animal fecal contamination. Therefore, the management of nitrogenous components should allow accurate identification of animal fecal contamination so that the timing of sand replacement can be managed hygienically and safely.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.357-379
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to have a more perfect understanding of forest kindergartens, to examine educational values important for the actualization of forest kindergarten education and to suggest some of the right directions for forest kindergartens. To serve the purpose, it was necessary to conduct qualitative research to closely observe the experiences of preschoolers in a forest kindergarten and grasp the meaning of their experiences. As a result, it has been found that the world of experiences among the preschoolers in the forest kindergarten consisted of the following three fields: The first was the field of real nature. The preschoolers found their own nature in the forest kindergarten. The second was the field of aesthetics. The preschoolers acquired aesthetic experiences in the forest kindergarten. And the last was the field of genuine play. The findings of the study had the following implications for education: First, it's important to provide enough time to preschoolers. Second, it's important to reconsider the meaning of preschooler's activity spaces. Third, it's important to see the meaning of genuine play and things to play with in a new light. The findings of the study show that a forest kindergarten could serve as a meaningful space to provide happiness for preschoolers.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2011

Objective : This study investigated the relationships of handwriting legibility and perceptual-motor skills, and handwriting speed and perceptual-motor skills. And identified the predictors that most affect the handwriting of preschool children. Methods : Twenty-three typically developing preschool aged children (mean age: 68.61 months, SD=2.04) were selected through the Korean-Denver Developmental Screening Test-2(K-DDST-2). The children were tested with regard to handwriting legibility, visual perception, visual-motor integration and fine-motor coordination. Results : First, a significant relationship was not found among handwriting legibility, visual perception, visualmotor integration and fine-motor coordination. Second, a significant relationship was found among handwriting speed, visual perception and fine-motor coordination. Third, stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that general visual perception were significant predictors for handwriting speed. Conclusion : Occupational therapists should evaluate children's visual perception levels utilizing a standardized test, and focus on general visual perception in order to improve handwriting skill(speed). Also, occupational therapists are expected to play an important role in the management and treatment of children's handwriting skills.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2024

Background: Children who use playground facilities are exposed to potential risks due to the high concentration of heavy metals contained in the finishing materials of facilities in children's playgrounds. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in the finishing materials of outdoor children's playgrounds where harmful heavy metals exist in Gwangju and to conduct human risk assessment for children and adults by age to find the risks and limitations. Methods: The bottom and top layers of double-painted paint were peeled off and collected together from the finishing materials of children's play facilities such as slides, swings, and seesaws in 147 children's parks in Gwangju. Heavy metals were analyzed using ICP-OES, etc., and human risk assessment was performed using the concentrations of heavy metals. Results: Based on 1.0E-04, which requires legal regulation, CTE was found to pose a carcinogenic risk for preschool children and no carcinogenic risk for the rest of the age groups. However, RME showed that both men and women of all ages had a carcinogenic risk. For reference, when the carcinogenic risk was based on 1.0E-06, CTE was found to pose a carcinogenic risk from infants to elementary school students, and RME was found to have a carcinogenic risk in all age groups. It was judged that there is a non-carcinogenic risk if the non-carcinogenic risk exceeds 1 based on the hazard index (HI) 1. In CTE, there was no non-carcinogenic risk, and RME for preschooler males (1.49E+00) and females (1.56E+00) were found to have non-carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: This study was meaningful in that it examines the differences in the current management of heavy metals concentration standards and potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to the human body and discusses the relationship between heavy metals and human health effects.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to judge the applicability of field quality control by children's goods manufacturers by assessing the contents of heavy metals such as Pb and Cd in outdoor play goods for children through measurement using Portable XRF and comparing the results through detailed analyses using ICP. Heavy metal contents of 711 part samples of 505 products were measured using XRF. According to the results, the ratio of products that exceeded the Pb and Cd content standards specified under the Quality Management and Safety Control of Industrial Products Act were 2.4% and 2.6%. Many products certified for self-regulated safety exceeded the standards and thus it was considered that harmful chemical material centered safety management systems would be necessary. Detailed ICP analyses of some products were compared and the results showed deviations of 0.9~80.8% from XRF results. The reasons for this are deviations in the characteristics of measured cross sections and the homogeneity of samples resulting from sample preparation methods, etc. Therefore, it is considered that field quality control will be applicable if measuring methods are efficiently established based on product characteristics and calibration curve preparation methods are established through quality control.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2002

Purpose: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is common, affecting between 7% and 25% of school-aged children and young adult. This study was designed to assess the relationship between RAP and depressive trends in school-aged children. Methods: In 1999, We surveyed 1,181 elementary school children (566 boys and 615 girls) whose ages ranged from 9 to 12 years. The degree of depression was compared between the group with RAP and normal control group without RAP according to Korean Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) of Kovacs and Beck. Results: The number of the group with RAP was significantly higher in female (25.7%) than in male (18.9%). The most common site of abdominal pain was periumbilical. The mean depression score in the group with RAP was higher than that of the control group. The depression score was significantly higher in the group with RAP who has frequently pain and additional symptoms. The depression score was significantly higher in the group with RAP who prefered to play alone, did not enjoy going to school and had few friends than in the group with RAP who had a lot of friends, had active and meticulous characters. The depression scores were not significantly different according to the duration of abdominal pain, the onset time of pain, and the day of pain in the group with RAP. Conclusion: The depression score of the group with RAP was higher than that of normal group. So, there is relatively a specific association between childhood RAP and depression in school aged children. It is good for physicians to consider psychological support in the treatment of childhood RAP.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.203-208
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• 2014

Objectives : Art and culture education might play a good role in children's emotions ; however, few studies to verify this have been conducted. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of an art and culture education program on behavior and social skills in children aged 7-10 years. Methods : Fifteen children (mean age $7.31{\pm}0.95$ years) were recruited from a community center and participated in an art and culture education program. The participants received a once a week program for 17 sessions, and we compared scores on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales (SSIS-RS) before and after intervention. Results : The participants' subscale scores of CBCL-aggressive behavior, social immaturity, internalizing behavior, externalizing behavior, total behavior problems and social skill scores on the SSIS-RS showed improvement (p<.05) after 15-weeks of the art and culture education program. Conclusion : These results suggest a positive effect of an art and culture education program on the reduction of externalizing and internalizing behaviors and improvement of social skills in children. Further prospective, controlled studies in large samples are needed in order to confirm our findings.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.502-517
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• 1998

This research intends to survey family environment, health behavior and health status of the students in urban-rural elementary schools and analyze those factors comparatively, and use the result as basic material for school health teacher to teach health education in connection with family and regional areas. It also intends to improve a pupil's self-abilitiy in health care. The subjects involve 2,774 students of urban elementary schools and 583 student in rural ones, who were selected by means of a multi -stage probability sampling. Using the questionnaire and school documents, we collected data on family environment, health behavior and health status for 19 days. Feb. 2nd 1998 through Feb. 20th 1998. The R -form of Family Environment Scale (Moos, 1974) was used in the analysis of family environment(Cronbach's Alpha =0.80). Questionnaires of Health Behavior in School-aged children used by the WHO in Europe(Aaro et al., 1986) and the ones developed by the Health Promotion Committee of the Western Pacific(WHO, 1995)(adapted by long Young-suk and Moon Young-hee(1996)) were used in the analysis of health behavior, as well documents on absences due to sickness, school health room-visits, levels of physical strength, height, weight and degree of obesity were used to determine health status. In next step, We used them with an $X^2$-test, t-test, Odds Ratio, and a 95% Confidence Interval. 1. In two dimensions of three, family-relationship (t=3.41, p=0.001) and system -maintenances(t= 2.41, p=0.0l6) the mean score of urban children were significantly higher than those of rural ones. In the personal development dimension however, there was little significant difference. Assorting family environment into 10 sub-fields and analyzing them, we recognized that urban children were superior to rural children in the sub-fields of expressiveness (t =3.47, p=0.001), conflict (t=0.48, p=0.001), active-recreational orientation (t = 1.97, p=0.049) and organization (t=4.33, p=0.000). 2. Referring to the Odds Ratios of urban-rural children's health behaviors, urban children set up more desirable behavior than rural children wear ing safety belts (Odds Ratio =0.32, p=0.000), washing hands after meals(Odds Ratio = 0.43, p= 0.000), washing hands after excreting (Odds Ratio = 0.39, p=O.OOO), washing hands after coming - home ( Odds Ratio = 0.75, p = 0.003), brushing teeth before sleeping(Odds Ratio =0.45, p=0.000), brushing teeth more than once a day (Odds Ratio =0.73, p=0.0l2), drinking boiled water (Odds Ratio = 0.49, p=0.000), collecting garbage at home(Odds Ratio=0.31, p=0.000) and in the school(Odds Ratio =0. 67, p=0.000). All these led to significant differences. As to taking milk(Odds Ratio = 1.50, p=0.000), taking care of eyesight(Odds Ratio=1.41, p=0.001) and getting physical exercise in(Odds Ratio = 1.33, p=0.0l9) and outside the school(Odds Ratio = 1.32, p=0.005), rural children had more desirable behavior which also revealed a significant difference. There was little significant difference in smoking, but the smoking rate of rural children(5.5%) was larger than that of urban children(3.9%). 3. Health status was analyzed in terms of absences, school health room-visits, levels of physical strength, and the degree of obesity, height and weight. Considering Odds Ratios of the health status of urban-rural children, the health status of rural children was significantly better than that of the urban ones in the level of physical strength(t=1.51, p=0.000) and the degree of obesity(t=1.84, p=0.000). The mean height of urban children ($150.4{\pm}7.5cm$) is taller than that of their counterparts($149.5{\pm}7.9$), which revealed a significant difference (t =2.47, p=0.0l4). The mean weight of urban children($42.9{\pm}8.6kg$) is larger than that of their counterparts($41.8{\pm}9.0kg$), which was also a significant difference(t=2.81, p=0.005). Considering the results above, we can recognize that there are significant differences in family environment, health behavior, and health status in urban-rural children. These results also suggestion ideas for health education. What we would suggest for the health program of elementary schools is that school health teachers should play an active role in promoting the need and importance of health education, develop the appropriate programs which correspond to the regional characteristics, and incorporate them into schools to improve children's ability to manage their own health management.