• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.103-116
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• 2006

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.