Children’s Understanding of Racial Diversity through Role-Play: A Case Study of Kindergarteners in South Korea

Abstract

In spite of the emphases on multicultural education and role-playing activities in early childhood classrooms in South Korea, there has been a startling paucity of studies examining the effectiveness of role-play in teaching kindergarteners multiracial and ethnic awareness. This qualitative case study examines how South Korean kindergarteners develop their perception and understanding of racial and cultural diversity through role-plays. 25 five year-old children and their parents and teacher were participated. The data were collected in a metropolitan city in Korea for three months through participatory observations, interviews with the participants, and written materials. We found that roleplay activities functioned as a medium to foster the children’s emergent understanding of racial diversity, equality, and social justice, and to reduce their racial prejudice toward different racial groups. The findings of the study suggest how teachers should prepare and what they should provide and implement in order to help young children develop unbiased attitudes toward different races and cultures.