THE EFFECT INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PRACTICE DURING PRESCHOOL HAS ON THE PEER RELATIONS AND SOCIAL SKILLS OF 5-6 – YEAR OLDS WITH TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of this study is to set forth the effect preschool inclusive education practices have on the peer relations of 5-6 year olds with typical development. The study comprised of two sample groups. The children in both groups were attendees of kindergartens at primary schools governed by the Ministry of National Education located in the Karatay district of Konya. The kindergartens of the primary schools in the district of Karatay were classified under two groups; those that exercised inclusive education and those that did not exercise inclusive education. Results of this study, conducted to investigate the effect inclusive education practice has on the peer relations and social skills of 5-6 year old children, concluded the in general inclusive education practice has a positive effect on the level of aggression, prosocial behaviour, asocial behaviour, and victimisation, which are related to peer relations, and interpersonal skills, anger management skills and adaptation to change, self-control skills and task completing skills, which are social skill variables. The was no significant difference between the score means of chosen peer relations and social skill variables for the children in both groups based on first measurements taken before inclusive education practice