The effects of three-dimensional cartoons on pre-school children’s conceptual development in relation to spatial perception

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cartoons are undoubtedly the TV programmes children most prefer watching. This study uses cartoons – which have significant effects on children’s learning – for concept teaching. Within the scope of the study, four cartoons were developed for teaching position-related concepts (in-out, in front of-behind, under-above) pre-school teachers noted difficulty in teaching. The study was conducted with a sample of 83 pre-school children in the age range of 48–60 months. This study used Solomon four-group experimental research design. The data were collected with a concept development test developed by the researchers, to determine children’s levels of conceptual development. The findings demonstrated that cartoons had statistically significant effects on pre-school children’s levels of conceptual development. In other words, education conducted through cartoons had more positive effects on children’s conceptual development than education in traditional method which is play-based. It was also found that pre-tests had effects on conceptual development.