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KMID : 1094520130160030189
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Korean Journal of Play Therapy
2013 Volume.16 No. 3 p.189 ~ p.204
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An Analysis of Emotional Expressions Seen during Block Play by Young Children
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Jung Ha-Na
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in young children’s emotional expressions in terms of both age and gender as they are revealed during block play among free-play activities in early childhood education institutions. In order to achieve this objective, 30 young children aged 4 and 5 years old at a kindergarten located in Gyeonggi province were selected and the frequency of their emotional expressions (happiness, sadness and anger) while participating in block play during free-play activities were measured. To better understand the differences in analysis of emotional expressions according to both age and gender, Mann-Whitney test was conducted. The primary findings of the study were as follows: first, in the analysis of emotional expressions regarding age observed during block play by young children, 4-year-old young children expressed happiness with non-verbal behavior and 5-year-old young children expressed it with facial expressions; for the emotional expression of sadness, 4-year-old young children expressed it with their facial expressions and verbal intonation, and 5-year-old young children expressed it more with non-verbal behavior. In terms of the emotional expression of anger, 5-year-old young children expressed it less frequently than 4-year-olds, but these differences were not statistically significant. Second, in the results our analysis of the emotional expression regarding gender seen during block play by young children, boys expressed the happiness with verbal intonation and non-verbal behavior, and girls expressed it with facial expressions more frequently; in the emotional expression of sadness, boys expressed it with non-verbal behavior, and girls expressed it more with facial expressions and intonation. In expressing the emotion of anger, boys expressed it more with all facial expressions, verbal intonation and non-verbal behavior. The meaning and implications of the study as well as suggestions for better therapeutic approaches towards block play were also discussed.
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KEYWORD
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Block play, Emotional expression, Gender, Age
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