Children's Views Toward Their Peers With Disabilities During Early Childhood

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to examine the opinions of preschool children towards their peers with disabilities and the characteristics that affect these views. This research is a qualitative study. In the research in which qualitative data analysis techniques are used, the basic data collection source is the semi-structured interview form. The study group consisted of 68 children between the months of 36 and 72 who attend kindergarten. In the analysis of the research findings, qualitative data were evaluated by content analysis. As a result of the research; In the post-test application regarding the appearance features of dolls with disabilities, the children in the age group of 3, 4 and 5; It was seen that they made definitions in the category of " describing the disability condition ". In the post-test application regarding the playmate preference of the children, the majority; It has been observed that they accept dolls with disabilities as playmates on the grounds of "not having experience" and "presence of equipment" in the age group of 3, and "activity content" and "having experience" in the age group 4 and 5. In addition "What games would you like to play?" question’s answers were evaluated, it was seen that all the children gave answers in the "games adapted to the disability condition" category in the post-test application.