Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to examine whether variables of peer relationships of children who attend preschool education significantly change in ages 5 and 6 or not. The sample group of the study consisted of 78 children aged 5 and 6, who attended a private kindergarten in the city center of Denizli and 2 independent kindergartens in Tavas and Serinhisar districts in the school year of 2010-2011, as well as 7 preschool teachers. Ladd and Profilet Child Behavior Scale and Peer Victimization Scale were used in the study. The data collection process was performed by applying the scales on the same sample group once in 2011 and once in 2012. Preschool teachers filled out the “Child Behavior Scale and Peer Victimization Scale” once for each child during each application period. While the first data of the study were collected in May of 2011, one year later the second data were collected in May of 2012. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the correlated samples in the data analysis in order to examine whether variables of peer relationships of children attending preschool education significantly change in ages 5 and 6 or not. According to the general results of the study; while aggression levels, asocial behavior levels, anxious-fearful levels, exclusion levels and peer victimization levels of preschool children decrease at the age of 6, their prosocial behavior levels increase at the age of 6. Variables of peer relationships of children who received preschool education vary in ages 5 and 6. Aggression levels, prosocial behavior levels, asocial behavior levels, anxious-fearful levels, exclusion levels and peer victimization levels, which were among peer relationship variables of children who received preschool education, did not remain stable in ages 5 and 6 and showed decreases and increases.

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