An investigation into the reflection of preschool children's relationships with parents on their play behaviors

The purpose of this study, in which the impact of the relationship between children and parents on the play behavior of children attending preschool was analyzed, is to examine the correlation between the parent-child relationship and the play behavior of children. The study was carried out based on the quantitative research methods. Within the scope of this research, comparisons were made by means of relational screening model. The sample group of the research consisted of 202 children attending independent preschools at the central districts of the province of Antalya affiliated to the Ministry of National Education and the parents of these children. In this study, relational screening model was used as a quantitative research method. The data on the children of the sample group was obtained through "Preschool Play Behavior Scale" filled in by monitoring the play behaviors of the children, while the data on the parents of the children was collected with the use of "Family Demography Fact Sheet" and "Child Parent Relationship Scale". The data obtained from the research was examined by way of statistical package program which was used for the quantitative data analyses. According to the research data, it was observed that the relationship between mothers and children did not vary by the age of the mothers, their employment status, their perspective on the socio-economic condition of the family, and the age and gender of the children. However, the relationship between mothers and the children did vary by the educational level of the mother. Accordingly, the average scale points of the relationship between the secondary school graduate mothers and their children were higher compared to the relationship between mothers with associate degree, bachelor's degree and master's degree and their children. As for the relationship between fathers and children, it was found out that the relationship did not vary by the age of the fathers, their educational level, their perspective on the socio-economic condition of the family, and the age and gender of the children. In addition, the results of the research data showed no correlation between the play behaviors of the children and the relationship between the mothers and children. Keywords: Preschool, Play Behavior, Play, Parent, Relationship.