Investigating the play behaviors of kindergarten children in turkey and united states of America `a cross-cultural study?

This research was aimed to investigate the play behaviors of kindergarten children during free play time in the Turkey and in the United States of America.The participants of the study were included 5-5.2 years old kindergarten children (two girls and two boys) attending to school in Konya, and 5-5.2 years old kindergarten children (two girls and two boys) attending to school in Arizona, and their mothers and teachers. One of the qualitative research methods, grounded theory, was applied as a research methodology. Children?s free play time episodes were video recorded for collecting data purposes. Analyzing records, behaviors were categorized and their sub-dimensions were determined. Following, children?s play behaviors during free play time were analyzed in terms of using play space, toy choices, play types, non-play behaviors and properties of play behaviors. Data gathered from mothers and teachers were used to explain and support some of the behaviors under these categories as well. The findings were presented in frequencies and percentages.Results showed that children with same developmental properties in different cultures have different attitudes in terms of kindergarten curriculum and gender towards using play space, toy choices, types of play, non-play behaviors and properties of play behavior. All children in this study used play spaces and toys in different amount and manners. Because their preferred games and their roles in those games were different, their frequency of play types was also changed. Children?s different behaviors in play explained that children in same developmental milestones reflect their individual characteristic towards games.Children?s developmental stages were found to be in correspondence with their properties of play behaviors in this study. It has been found that, children?s social play and social interaction and attitude in play was positive. The differences in the frequencies of these behaviors, and the factors shaping play types, and properties of play behavior were explained in the play behavior categories.Findings suggested that children?s play behaviors should be supported by extending their play areas, supplying rich play materials, and pre-planning play opportunities according to goals and acquisitions. Play centered teaching methods should be developed and applied in the early childhood education centers.