• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.109-123
• /
• 2017

Due to the positive effect of forest space for child development, the creation and operation of forest activity space of various organizations is increasing in quantity; however, the research on practical space design and management program is insufficient. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the space and management programs of the forest experience centers through the post-occupancy evaluation of teachers and preschoolers participating in forest activities. To do this, we analyzed the selected twelve sites through field survey, class observation, and interviews with forest education specialists, and then surveyed 115 forest education experts and childcare teachers for importance, performance, overall satisfaction, and space preference. In addition, we accessed overall satisfaction and space preference of twenty-nine preschoolers through interviews, photo-simulation, and questionnaires. As a result, the importance and performance of management program area was rated higher than the spatial characteristics area. In terms of group comparison, the group with active structured program rated two areas higher than the groups with free play. Preschoolers with structured programs preferred facility space, but preschoolers with free play preferred nature. Two preschooler groups rated forest activity as satisfactory. Based on the analysis results: 1) The composition of the forest activity space should ensure accessibility, safety, diversity of diversity, water space, connect to the forest road, and secure various terrains, trees, and natural materials; 2) The management program should ensure that forest activity programs have the proportional balance of structural programs and free play; also. management programs should plan for sufficient free playtime and a high share of play in the forest; and 3) Ensure the role and expertise of forestry specialists and run a program to increase the autonomy of preschoolers.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.5-29
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to find out various problem behaviors of children who were not diagnosed with any disability, but instead, engaged in problem behaviors. This study also intended to review the difficulties of children with problem behaviors, their teachers' difficulties and needs, to suggest support for child care and education teachers. This study conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with eight child care and education teachers. The interviews were transcribed into text and analyzed by contents. The results of this study are as follows. Problem behaviors of children described by teachers were classified into external and internal types. In addition, children with problem behaviors had experienced difficulties in maintaining relationships with their teachers, peers and parents. Many teachers were not successful to provide appropriate support for preschoolers who demonstrated problem behaviors in classrooms or some teachers provided individualized support. Teachers adapted the behavioral and the psychological approaches to problem behaviors of preschoolers. However, teachers reported difficulties with children with problem behavior and brought up the following issues on teaching children with problem behaviors; managing troubled matters happening in the class, difficulty in controlling teacher's emotions on problem behaviors, the lack of time, the integrated child care time without teacher in charge of child, the interruption in activity progress, the lack of a special way to deal with problem behaviors, and difficulty in cooperation with families through parents-teacher counseling sessions. Teachers counseled with parents who had a child with problem behaviors and revealed that parents reacted to problem behaviors in various ways such as embarrassment, acceptance, ignorance, or avoidance. Most teachers received assistance and support for teaching children with problem behaviors, from families, local communities and in-service training. Lastly, teachers with preschoolers with problem behaviors needed the support of experts on managing behavior problems, assistant teaching personnel, education for parents and teachers, respects for teachers, psychological counseling or play therapy from professional service agencies, diagnosis service at child care and education centers which children attended, and support networking with agencies. Teachers also required the family support of medical diagnosis and psychological counseling and financial support from the government.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.21-42
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of reading and discussion activities on children's self-esteem in a social welfare center called 'Gongbubang.' A reading/discussion program was constructed to serve the purpose of the study and suit the selected children by referring to earlier studies that found reading programs were effective at boosting the self-esteem of elementary schoolers. The subjects in this study were 21 children in 'HaedamGongbubang', a general social welfare center located in an urban region in South Gyeongsang Province. Out of them, 12 children who involved four boys and eight girls were selected as an experimental group, and nine who included five boys and four girls were grouped into a control group. The reading/discussion program was implemented in eight sessions during a four-week period of time from September 23 to October 15, 2009, twice a week, 50 to 55 minutes each. The instrument used in this study was Yoon Hyang-mi(2008)'s Self-Esteem Inventory, and the collected data were analyzed with a SPSS 12.0 program. The major findings of the study were as follows: First, the reading and discussion activities had an effect on bolstering the general self, social self and academic self of the children in the Gongbubang, a social welfare center. Second, the reading and discussion activities were effective at improving the general self and academic self of the school boys in the Gongbubang, a social welfare center. Third, the reading and discussion activities had an effect on fostering the social self and academic self of the school girls in the Gongbubang, a social welfare center. The findings of the study illustrated that the reading and discussion activities had an effect on furthering the self-esteem of the children in the Gongbubang, a social welfare center, and those activities are expected to be conducive to the self-esteem of children in Gongbubangs, which are social welfare centers.

• Korean Journal of Child Education & Care
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2018

Objective: Social attention is paid to the issues concerning child care teachers' work multisibility and ambiguous legal status. Child care teachers are employees based on the "Labor Standards Act" and the "Child Care Act". They also play the role of kindergarten teachers based on the "Childhood Education Act" because of the Nuri curriculum. Based on the main tasks of the child care teachers who protect and nurture infants and toddlers, the Nuri curriculum education for infants is conducted. However, the duties and rights of child care teachers are disproportionate because there are many areas where teachers' professional roles do not suit their legal rights. Methods: The purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers perceive their own rights through field experience using qualitative method based on interpretative epistemology. Participants were 61 child care teachers working in the metropolitan area and used protocol description and focus group interview (FGI) for data collection. The collected data were derived as a central theme according to the data analysis method proposed by Creswell (2013). Results: Participants in the study described the 'Right and autonomy of education as a professional occupation', 'Right to request for improvement on working conditions, guarantee of living and to request for welfare system' and 'Right to guarantee of a teacher's status and adjustment of grievance.' They pointed out poor working conditions and welfare benefits at daycare centers, and emphasized that education and autonomy are necessary conditions to be strengthened for quality child care activities. On the other hand, they did not realize that 'Right to guarantee of a teacher's status and adjustment of grievance' was their right. And they have endured the infringement of this right. Conclusion/Implications: This study reveals the gap between teachers' responsibilities and rights, indicating the urgency of institutional arrangements. It is discussed that the social expectation for strengthening personality and professionalism as an infant and child specialist is increased and a practical alternative for the improvement of the right of teachers working in the child care field is needed considering the change of values about work.