Theoretical analysis for the development of early childhood oral health curriculum and developmental case

유아구강보건교육과정 개발을 위한 이론 분석 및 개발 사례

The purpose of this study was to analyze theories of curriculum development in an attempt to develop a systematic early childhood oral health curriculum that would be the basis of the lifelong oral health of preschoolers. The findings of the study were as follows; 1. The current kindergarten curriculum just stated that kindergarteners should keep their teeth clean, and no systematic guidelines on what to teach were included. That was hardly expected to provide efficient education on oral health promotion. 2. Preschoolers, teachers and parents were investigated to find out learner needs, and educational objects and what to teach were selected based on their needs and Tyler's Curriculum Development Theory. 3. Most of the early childhood teachers felt the need for oral health education, but faced difficulties in conducting it due to heavy workload. Another reason seemed that they were empowered to provide that education at their option since that was not mandatory. 4. As a result of analyzing the early childhood segments and educational objects of college textbooks on oral health education, every textbook differed from one another. There was a necessity to set up standardized educational objects for early childhood oral health education. 5. Oral health specialists should be involved in the development of early childhood curriculum to ensure the selection of standardized educational objects and contents.