The Promotion of Young Children’s Self-Regulation through Activities of Tools of the Mind

• Main Authors: Sze-Han Wang, 王思涵
• Other Authors: Shiou-Ping Shiu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/73028733335437239960

碩士 === 樹德科技大學 === 兒童與家庭服務系 === 101 === The purpose of this study is to explore whether activities of tools of the mind can improve young children’s self-regulation, and understand the situation when young children conduct the activities of tools of the mind. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in this study; and Quasi-Experimental Research Approach was used for quantitative research. Young children from the four classes of three affiliated kindergartens of primary schools in Kaohsiung City were selected to participate in this study and the average age of the participants in this study was 5.7. After grouping, there were one experimental group and three control groups; the participants of experimental group received a 12-week activities of tools of the mind ; conversely, the three control groups remained no experiments. The Head-to-Toes Task was used as a quantitative tool for calculating the score of self-regulation ability; analysis methods used in this study included Independent-Samples t Test, ANCOVA, and Range Test, all of which were used for analyzing quantitative data. The principal finding suggested that, compared to the control groups, the young children''s of the experimental group had a significant progress in self-regulation ability. The data of qualitative research included the researcher’s observation fieldnotes and the teacher’s interview transcribes, which were analyzed to obtain the results. The results indicate that: 1.When conducting Learning Areas Plan, it is necessary to set up interest learning areas and provide enough materials. 2.Most specific mediators can help young children guide their own behaviors. 3.Mediators may improve young children’s ability of thinking. 4.Mediators can help young children develop the ability of time management during the learning areas time. 5.The activities of mind tools can increase young children''s sharing behaviors. 6.Activities of mind tools can significantly increase young children’s attention and sensitivity. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that when conducting the activities of tools of the mind, an appropriate learning environment is necessary to assist young children developing their thinking ability and guiding their own behaviors through mediators. Another finding in this study is that the activities of tools of the mind can enhance young children''s ability to attention, sensitivity, and self-regulation. On the basis of the conclusions in the study, the concrete suggestions are given to schools and future research for references.