The Effect of Playfulness on the Social Skills of Young Children : A Study of Gender Differences

유아의 성별에 따른 놀이성이 사회적 기술에 미치는 영향

This study examined gender differences of the effect of playfulness on the social skills of young children. The subjects were 242 4- to 6-year-old children at five nursery schools and kindergartens. Results showed that playfulness influenced social skills of young children. In particular, young children's playfulness was a more effective variable of assertion than self-control, cooperation and responsibility. Cognitive spontaneity and social spontaneity were the most effective variable of social skills. Playfulness had variable influences on social skills by gender: Among boys, playfulness was a less effective variable of cooperation than the other variables of social skills. Among girls, playfulness was a less effective variable of self-control than other variables of social skills.