The effects of game-based learning on peer relationships of preschool children

There are many factors that affect children's development and learning. Pre-school education period in the 0-6 age group; It is a sensitive period in which children progress in all areas of development, gain acquisitions that form their characteristic features, and are open to learning experiences. In this sense, socialization for a child; being a member of a group and gaining the behaviors, attitudes, and values of the other children in the group. The most important element in this process is the child's relationships with his peers and the behaviors they exhibit during these relationships. Peer relationship is the second social environment of the child after the family. Social skills and peer interactions in preschool children are acquired through games. In this context, this study aimed to examine the effect of game-based learning on peer relations in the preschool education period. Within the scope of the research, an answer is searched for the question of whether children's peer relationships change depending on gender, number of siblings, education level of parents, income status of the family, and previous pre-school education status. This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design in order to examine the effect of game-based education on peer relations. The universe of the research consists of 5-year-old children who continue their education in independent kindergartens affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Istanbul in the 2020-2021 academic year. The sample group of the research consists of 26 children aged 5 years from an independent kindergarten in Istanbul Küçükçekmece district in the 2020-2021 academic year. "Child Behavior Scale" and "Peer Exposure Scale" and "Personal Information Form" adapted into Turkish by Gülay (2008) were applied. Necessary normality values were checked for statistical analysis. It was observed that the data did not show normal distribution. The Mann-Whitney U Test were used in the analysis of the data. According to the findings of the study, it was determined that game-based education has an effect on peer relations. Keywords: Game, game-based learning, peer, peer relations