• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 2020

This study investigated the relationship between preschoolers' smart media usage in regards to cognitive and language development, especially the mediating effect of preschoolers' smart media addiction tendency and the moderated mediating effect of maternal guidance on smart media usage. The study surveyed 273 preschoolers' mothers who lived in Daegu City and Kyungpook Province. The findings of this study were as follows. First, preschoolers' smart media addiction tendency mediated the relationship between smart media usage time in regards to cognitive and language development. Second, maternal active mediation and monitoring moderated the relationship between preschoolers' smart media usage time and smart media addiction tendency. Third, there was a maternal co-use moderated the mediating effect of preschoolers' smart media addiction tendency on language development. In conclusion, preschoolers' smart media addition tendency mediated the effect of smart media usage time on cognitive and language development. Among the mediation pathways, the influence of preschoolers' smart media addiction tendency on language development was moderated by maternal co-use. The findings of this study suggest that maternal guidance should be applied differently depending on preschoolers' smart media addiction tendency. This study examined preschoolers' and maternal smart media-related variables on preschoolers' cognitive and language development in order to provide preliminary data that can be used to explore the maternal guidance on how to use smart media for their preschool children.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.23-36
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• 2009

Relationships between immigrant mothers' Korean language ability and preschoolers' language development in multi-cultural families were studied with 91 mothers and their children. Language capacity of mothers and children was measured by receptive and expressive vocabulary test, sentence comprehension test and two kinds of reading tests. Results showed that mothers' level of comprehension was relatively low but their reading ability was higher than that of elementary school first-grade Korean students. Comprehension of children in multi-cultural families with non-immigrant counterparts showed a lower level of language ability. Mother's level of expressive vocabulary, receptive vocabulary and reading ability correlated with children's language development. These results indicate a relationship between children's delayed language development in multi-cultural families and mother's low proficiency in Korean language.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2016

Objective: This research examined mothers' and preschoolers' uses of mental state terms during pretend play and linked such use to children's independent mental state terms used in hypothetical narratives. Methods: Fifty four-year-olds and their mothers were engaged in pretend play and the preschoolers were asked to provide hypothetical narratives. Mothers' and preschoolers' mental state terms were analyzed in terms of types and frequencies. Results: During pretend play, the mothers and preschoolers used desire state terms most variously and frequently, followed by cognitive and emotion state terms. In the hypothetical narratives, the preschoolers used desire state terms most variously and frequently; however they talked about emotion state terms more variously and cognitive state terms more frequently. In addition, the mothers' mental state terms were correlated with the preschoolers' mental state terms during the pretend play, and the mothers' and preschoolers' uses of mental state terms during pretend play were related to the preschoolers' mental state terms in hypothetical narratives. Conclusion: Findings from this study highlight that, during the preschool period, a mothers' mental state language might foster her child's understanding of mental states in himself/herself and in others.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.151-165
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the information literacy of preschoolers and their developmental trends. The subjects in this study were 122 preschoolers. After taking tests in information literacy and early childhood development, the collected data was analyzed. The findings of the study were as follows : First, there were gaps among the preschoolers in the level of early childhood development according to the relative levels of their information literacy. When a post-hoc analysis was carried out to investigate intergroup differences in detail, there were statistically significant gaps between the preschoolers with excellent information literacy and those with intermediate-or poor information literacy, and between the preschoolers with intermediate information literacy and those with poor information literacy. Second, the differences in terms of the levels of information literacy and the impact these differences made to their body, cognition, language, sociability and emotions which comprise the five subfactors of the early childhood development inventory were checked after the mutual influence of the five subfactors was controlled. As a result, statistically significant gaps were apparent in all the subfactors of early childhood development according to relative levels of information literacy. The preschoolers who had a better level of information literacy exhibited a statistically significantly better level of development in every subfactor.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.123-137
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• 2013

Individuals rely on Theory of Mind (ToM) to represent themselves, others, and socio-cultural norms. Distinctive Western and Eastern developmental patterns of ToM have been reported in monocultural children. Relatively little is known about bicultural children, especially those children who grow up in two conflicting and unbalanced cultures. We hypothesized that the development of ToM in these bicultural preschoolers would follow the pattern of the dominant culture. To examine this hypothesis, we recruited English-speaking Chinese Singaporean preschoolers. In Study 1, we tested 3- to 5-year-olds (N = 120) with 5 ToM tasks, including diverse desires, diverse beliefs, knowledge access, and false belief, as well as a vocabulary task. In Study 2, we tested 5-year-olds (N = 30) with a picture-choice version of these ToM tasks. Both studies supported our hypothesis by revealing that the development of ToM in these bicultural children followed the pattern of the dominant culture. Additionally, we found that 5-year-old bicultural children are still developing false belief, and their verbal ability correlated with their ToM.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.21-37
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contents of Korean-learning applications by comparing two teaching methods(Phonics Instruction/Whole Language Approach). For this purpose, a total of 51 Korean-learning applications were analysed. The instruments used in this study were developed based on Applications for preschoolers Evaluation Criteria and Vocabulary Game Applications for preschoolers Evaluation Criteria. The collected data were analyzed by using a t-test. The main results are as follows. First, 'Developmental appropriateness' had the highest scores whereas 'Amusement' had the lowest scores in general. Second, there was a significant difference in 'Interaction' by teaching method. Implications for the development of more systematic Korean-learning applications for preschoolers are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.73-88
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• 2005

This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid developmental test for toddlers and preschoolers. A trial form of the test with 230 items in 5 domains(cognitive, physical, language, social, and self-help) was constructed and administered to 200 children from 2 to 5-year-olds. Item analysis indicated that most items selected in cognitive, physical, and indicated domain were acceptable in terms of item response rate and item discrimination. However, some items in social and self-help domain did not show clear age trends in item response, but mostly were adequate in item discrimination. Based on item analysis, 112 items were selected for the final form : 24 items each for the cognitive, physical, and language domain; 20 items each for the social and self-help domain. Reliability indicated by internal consistency coefficients(KR-20) were high in all domains. Validity of the test was supported by inter-correlations among 5 domains(.61 to .93), and significant age differences in domain scores.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.135-146
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• 2016

Objective: This study explored the creative thinking styles of children according to cluster analyses and examined group differences in language ability, cognitive ability, and peer relationships. Methods: The study used the data from the 2012 Panel Study of Korean Children by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The participants comprised 1,681 4-year-olds. Data were analyzed via cluster analyses, ${\chi}^2$ distributions, and ANOVA tests. Results and Conclusion: The results from the cluster analyses based on percentiles of the subfactors of K-FCTYC (Korean Figural Creativity Test for Young Children) indicated four clusters: "divergent creative with openness," "non-creative," "divergent creative," and "multiple creative." Additionally, the four clusters differed by gender, language ability, cognitive ability, and peer relationships.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2015

This study investigated the effects of the age of Korean speakers, place of articulation, and phonation types on voice onset time (VOT) of stops. Twenty-five preschoolers, 25 schoolers, and 25 adults who had no history of speech and language impairment produced plosives in /VCV/ words in isolation. A three-way ($3{\times}3{\times}3$) mixed design was used with the age of speakers (preschoolers, schoolers, adults) as a between-subject factor, the place of articulation (bilabials, alveolars, velars) and phonation types (plain, tense, aspirated consonants) as a within-subject factor. The dependent measure was the VOT values. Results revealed that three main effects were statistically significant. Preschoolers exhibited longer VOTs than adults (p<.05). There were significant differences in VOTs among the place of articulation, showing that speakers had the longest VOTs for velars (velars > alvelars > bilabials) (all p<.05). In addition, the VOTs for aspirated consonants were longer than those for plain and tense consonants, and the differences were significant among three phonation types (aspirated > tense > plain) (all p<.05). The current results suggested that VOTs would be linked to age and development, and schoolers over the age of 11 years had achieved adult-like VOTs. Moreover, the place of articulation and phonation types in Korean stops showed marked factors in normal speakers' VOT patterns.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2012

Research has shown that mothers' attitudes towards early English language and literacy learning are important for children's English language development. Some researchers have indicated that in Taiwan most parents have a positive attitude towards English instruction and are motivated to teach English at home to their preschoolers. There is, however, little current data available to explain the motivations behind such parents' decisions to teach English to their child in the home before the commencement of formal schooling. We conducted a thematic analysis of the written survey responses of 263 Taiwanese mothers who explained why they taught their preschool children English at home. The findings indicate that English is highly valued for children's school readiness, future career opportunities, and because of its status as a global language. The mothers' motivations for teaching English include the desire to cultivate the child's interest, a belief in 'the earlier the better" for second language learning, and a belief in the need to review and practice English. These findings have the potential to inform educational policies and implementation strategies, as they can reveal whether mothers' motivations align with national priorities for English language education.