• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.21-36
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• 2019

Objective: Using data from the Panel Study on Korean Children, this study investigated the influence of teacher'thoughts about the transition from ECEC to primary school in relation to learner-centered teaching methods and children's school adjustment. Methods: We analyzed the longitudinal data of 658 seven-year-olds from the 8th and 9th waves of the panel study of Korean children collected by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education in 2015 and 2016. The main analysis method was Structural Equation Modeling(SEM). Results: First, theachers' thoughts about the transition from ECEC to primary school was noteworthy. Second, the more concern a theacher' had about transition, the higher their learner-centered teaching method. Third, teacher' concern about transition influenced children's school adjustment. Fourth, a teacher's learner-centered teaching method mediated concern about children's transition and school adjustment in the first year and the second year. Conclusion/Implications: According to the results of this study, 1st grade teachers' concern about the transition from ECEC to primary school has been found to be predictors of children's school adjustment.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.83-113
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• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to develop and apply the home connection program for promoting the mathematical interaction of parents of 3-year-olds. Methods: We surveyed questionnaires for 36 parents and interviewed 3 parents of 3-year-olds for the development of the program. Twenty-one 3-year-olds were selected as participants in the program. Quantitative data from a checklist for parent's mathematical interaction were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Qualitative data from self-evaluation of teachers and parents were categorized and analyzed in terms of meaning. Results: Based on the home connection program, the session were provided in the following order [educare center activities ${\rightarrow}$ home-linked activities ${\rightarrow}$ home+educare integrated activities] and in each session, the three-step course [sharing of thinking ${\rightarrow}$ gathering of thinking ${\rightarrow}$ broadening of thinking] was applied. Implementation of this program led to promoting parental mathematical interaction. Conclusion/Implications: This study will lead to follow-up studies that reveal positive effects of our program.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Objective: This study examined the effects of mothers' reactions to children's negative emotions on the children's social power through children's emotional regulation ability. Methods: A total of 339 four-year and five- year old preschoolers, and their mother and teachers in Seoul and Gyeongi participated in the study. Data were analyzed by path analysis using AMOS 21.0 program. Results: The results were as follows: First, mothers' reactions to children's negative emotions were significantly related to children's emotional regulation ability and social power. Also, children's emotional regulation ability was significantly associated with children's social power. Second, mothers' reactions to children's negative emotions had indirect effects on social power - prosocial leadership and social dominance-through children's emotional regulation ability. Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study revealed the mediating role of children's emotional regulation ability between mothers' reactions to children's negative emotions and children's social power. Also, these findings will be helpful in order to understand children's social power and to develop parent education programs.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.105-122
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• 2020

Objective: The study aimed to examine the impact of a supportive school environment on children's prosocial behavior by investigating the sequential mediating effects of children's self-esteem and happiness. Methods: Results of the study were obtained by analysing data collected from 633 nine-year-old children in the 10th wave of the Panel Study on Korean Children(2017). The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and significance of mediated pathways using SPSS 23.0 and PROCESS macro 3.3. Results: First, children's self-esteem did not have mediational effects with respect to a supportive school environment and children's prosocial behavior. Second, children's happiness had mediational effects with respect to a supportive school environment and children's prosocial behavior. Lastly, a supportive school environment affects children's self-esteem, which affects children's happiness, thereby promoting children's prosocial behavior. Conclusion/Implications: In order to promote children's prosocial behavior, we should put emphasis on developing a supportive school environment, and increasing children's self-esteem and happiness. It is important that teachers treat children and classmates treat each other with a warm attitude so that they can value themselves and feel happiness in their lives.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.65-84
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of children's emotional intelligence on teacher-child intimacy perceived by children and peer acceptance. Methods: The participants were 134 five-year-old children(71 boys, 63 girls) attending daycare centers and kindergarten in Seoul and Gyeong-nam province. Children were interviewed to measure teacher-child intimacy and peer acceptance. Teachers completed rating scales to measure children's emotional intelligence. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, three step mediated regression analysis and a Sobel test. Results: The main results are as follows. first, there were significant positive correlations of teacher-child intimacy, emotional intelligence, and children's peer acceptance. Second, children's emotional intelligence had a partial mediating effect on teacher-child intimacy and peer acceptance. Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study demonstrates links between early teacher-child relationships and children's emotional and social development. In order to promote children's peer acceptance, it is necessary to build an intimate teacher-child relationship and to improve children's emotional intelligence based on that relationship.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.105-124
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the pathway from mothers' overprotective parenting to their child's peer play interactions mediated by internalizing problems, that is, social immaturity and withdrawal. Methods: Surveys were conducted on mothers and teachers of 341 children aged three to five. SPSS 22.0 was used to analyze the data using descriptive statistics. Structural modeling analysis was also implemented to test theoretical model using AMOS 21.0. Results: Maternal overprotective parenting, which increased social immaturity of their child, indirectly reduced the child's positive interactions with peers during play. Mothers' overprotection led to a higher level of withdrawal of their child while the effect of children's withdrawal on their peer play interaction was not significant. Because overactive parenting of mothers had no direct effect on peer play interaction, the complete mediation model representing a path from maternal overprotection to children's peer play interaction via their internalizing problems was partially supported. Conclusion/Implications: This study shows that overprotective mothers hinder their child to experience confident and mature manners, and eventually lead their child to be socially unskillful and incompetent. It was suggested to explore more individual characteristics of mothers and children to help overprotective mothers to take a step back.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.73-91
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• 2021

Objective: This study focused on the relationships between emotionality, social competence and play behavior in a sample of 218 4- to 5-year olds attending daycare centers. Methods: All variables were measured by the daycare teachers of the surveyed children. The data were analyzed using Simple Regression and Multiple Regression through SPSS Win 25.0. Results: First, preschoolers' positive emotionality had a negative effect on their play disruption and play disconnection and a positive effect on play interaction. On the other hand, their negative emotionality had a positive effect on play disruption and play disconnection and a negative effect on play interaction. Second, their positive emotionality had a positive influence on social competence and their negative emotionality had a negative influence. Finally, the effect of their positive emotionality on play disruption was partially mediated, and their play disconnection and play interaction was totally mediated by social competence. On the other hand, the effect of preschoolers' negative emotionality on play disruption and play disconnection was totally mediated, and their play interaction was partially mediated by social competence. Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study imply that we need to help preschoolers promote emotionality and social competence together to change their play behavior positively.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-50
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop an early childhood teacher's autonomy scale in the implementation of the Early Childhood Curriculum and to verify its validity and reliability. Methods: A literature review and a delphi survey were conducted in order to explore conceptual characteristics and develop a preliminary questionnaire. A main survey was conducted on 375 early childhood teacher to test their item quality, validity and reliability. Results: The final scale was composed of 24 items with four factors: 'support for child-centered play environment and interaction' (7 items), 'use of learning community' (4 items), 'cooperation and participation with family and local community' (6 items), and 'flexible daily management' (7 items). And the scale was verified as a stable and reliable tool. Conclusion/Implications: This is expected to contribute to the correct understanding of children's education and to actively realize the autonomy of early childhood teachers in the implementation of the Early Childhood Curriculum.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.149-168
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the structural relationship between fathers' involvement in parenting, mother's parenting stress and smartphone addiction, and children's smartphone addiction. Methods: The subjects of this study were 327 children aged between 3 and 5 who were attending nurseries and kindergartens in Gyeonggido, Gangwondo, and Busan, South Korea, and their mothers, fathers, and teachers. The data collected from the subjects were analyzed based on correlation analysis and structural equation modeling. Results: First, the fathers' involvement in parenting had a direct effect on their children's smartphone addiction, and no direct effect on the mother's parenting stress and smartphone addiction. Second, the mother's parenting stress had a direct effect on the mother's smartphone addiction and direct and indirect effects on their children's smartphone addiction. Third, the mother's smartphone addiction had a direct effect on their children's smartphone addiction. Conclusion/Implications: The findings in this study suggest the fathers' involvement in parenting and the mother's parenting stress and smartphone addiction have effects on their children's smartphone addiction. Based on these results, the study proposed ways to prevent children's addiction to smartphones and provided suggestions for further research.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.19-37
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parent play support beliefs and children's playfulness on children's ego-resiliency. Methods: The participants for this study were 236 young children aged 3 to 5, their parents, and teachers in 19 daycare centers located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. Results: The major findings were summarized as follows. First, overall, the level of parents' play support beliefs, children's playfulness and ego-resiliency tended to be high in the present sample. Second, mothers' play support beliefs and children's active participation in play were significantly and positively associated with children's ego-resiliency. Third, parents' play support beliefs had no moderation effect on the effects of children's playfulness on their ego-resiliency. Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study suggest that parents' play support beliefs and children's playfulness are effective in improving children's ego-resiliency.