A Study in the Understanding of Other Children during Play

幼児の仲間関係を捉えるため､本研究では､遊び仲間における他児評価を問題にしつつ､｢活動の種類による仲間選択の相違｣調査(調査1)及びごっこ遊びにおける｢役の割り当て｣調査(調査2)の2種類の調査を行った｡調査1では､幼児の段階から単に｢好きだから｣､｢仲良しだから｣などの漠然とした友好関係だけでなく､相手の能力や特質を考慮した仲間選択が行われていることが分かった｡その相手の能力面を考慮する傾向は3歳児でも見られるが､より強く現われてくるのは4歳児以降であり､また､遊びの種類から見るとその能力重視の傾向は､ままごと､ブロック､鬼ごっこの順に強まることが分かった｡以上のことから幼児の仲間選択は､幼児の年齢や活動の種類によっても傾向が異なると言える｡ 調査2では､年齢が上がるにつれ､ごっこ遊びにおける役の割り当てが固定してくる傾向が見られた｡原因としては､4歳児以降に他児の能力を考慮し役を割り当てる傾向が強まることや､5歳児以降に他児評価がクラス内に定着してくることが考えられるとの結果を得た｡ 幼児の段階からすでに､他児への見方に特定の評価基準があり､それを基にどんな時にはどんな相手を選択したら良いのかを考え､仲間選択を行うようである｡The purpose of this study is to understand peer relationship while focusing on young children's appraisal of their playmates. In this study, we conducted two surveys that are "Playmate selection based on different kinds of activities" and "Assigning playmates to specific roles in pretend play" . Based on the result of the first survey, we discovered that young children chose their playmates not only because of their friendship but also playmates' abilities and characteristics. The preference of taking playmates' ability into consideration appears in children ages of three and intensifies for children ages of four and above, In addition, the degree of preference increases in the order of pretend play, block, and tag when we examine the different types of play. Hence, we can prove that playmate selection is based on children's age and the types of activities, The result of the second survey indicates that as children age, they tend to have a fixed preference to assign their playmates to specific roles in pretend play. The result also shows children ages of four more inclined in assigning their playmates to specific roles while taking their abilities into consideration. At the age of five, children's preference becomes more established during the appraisal of other children within the same class. Based on the results of our surveys, we can infer that young children have a specific basis of selecting playmates and from this basis, the playmate selection shifts as they age