How preschoolers and preschool teachers perceive their mutual relationships:reflections on observed behaviours

In this study, we aimed to examine reflections of preschoolers’ and teachers’ perceptions concerning their relationships on observed behaviours. Together with 8 teachers, a total of 55 6-year-old children (38 girls and 17 boys) participated in the study which was conducted within the urban parts of Izmir, Turkey. For assessing relationship perceptions of children and teachers, we used two forms, Semi-structured Play Interview and Teacher Relationship Interview. Student Observation Form and Caregiver Interaction Scale were used to observe relationship-based behaviours of children and teachers. We have found a link between the way in which children perceive their relationships with their teachers and their behaviours concerning those relationships. There was no meaningful correlation between teachers’ perceptions and their observed relationship-based behaviours. In addition, how a teacher perceives his/her relationship with a particular child was found to be different than how that child perceives his/her relationship with the teacher. Findings were discussed to make suggestions for preschool education field and future studies