유아 사회정서지원 과정에서 유아교사가 경험하는 보람과 어려움

Abstract

Objectives This study attempted to draw implications by exploring the rewards and difficulties experienced by early childhood teachers in supporting young children’s social emotional development. Methods Data were collected by conducting two in-depth interviews with 17 teachers of 3 to 5-year-olds at early childhood education institutions located in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon and analyzed using qualitative research methods. The research findings derived through data analysis underwent internal validation by the study participants, discussions among researchers, and consultations with two early childhood education experts. Results The results show that, in supporting young children social emotional development, the teachers feel rewarding when the children control their emotions and build social relationships by themselves, appropriately express emotions and use social skills for situations, and also when there are progress and practices at home. In addition, the teachers experience difficulties in supporting children’s social emotional development due to developmental differences among the children, challenges in using interaction methods to support social emotional development, lack of time and manpower, and parents’ insufficient understanding and cooperation with supporting methods. Conclusions Through this study, it is found that the early childhood teachers experience rewards and difficulties in supporting young children’s social emotional development in various aspects. It is necessary to develop and provide professional developmental training and programs that can improve social emotional teaching capabilities of early childhood teachers. More practical support needs to be provided to early childhood teachers by seeking case-by-case support plans related to young children's social emotional development. Also, it is necessary to develop criteria and indicators to understand young children’s social and emotional developmental levels, so that appropriate supports for each child’s developmental level can be provided. In addition, it is essential to prepare plans for both of families and institutions to support young children's social emotional development together through family-linked programs.