Özet:

The aim of this study is to examine the opinions and experiences of typically developed peers in the preschool period on individual differences and social acceptance for the children with special needs in the inclusion environments. Phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the research. The study included 13 typically developing children in the 5-6 age group attending to their education at two preschools. In the study, data was collected through semi-structured interview technique which is presented by storytelling and finger puppet presentation. Besides the data was collected through in-class observations. Content analysis was used by employing the NVivo program. According to the results of the interview with peers; they often expressed empathic feelings about sadness, anxiety, anger, loneliness, and despair related to their feelings towards children with special needs. In addition, it was revealed that peers had positive attitudes towards children with special needs such as being sensitive, helping or showing tolerance, as well as negative attitudes such as demonstrating problem behavior, being in low expectation, and mocking. In the classroom observations, it was noted that negative peer attitudes came to the fore due to problem behaviors. When results of the research were examined in terms of peer acceptance, only one of the peers in the first interview stated that they accepted, four accepted and rejected, and eight rejected. However, in confirming interviews, five of the peers stated that they accepted, two accepted and rejected, and six rejected.

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