Gender and interactions of children during free play in a Montessori preprimary classroom

The purpose of this study was to add to the existing knowledge concerning interactions in preprimary settings, especially Montessori settings, based on gender. It investigated the play behaviors of boys and girls within the Montessori classroom and interactions among children and their playmates and adults during free play.;This case study was based on quantitative and descriptive data. Time sampling was used to collect data on the interactions of boys and girls within the Montessori free play context. Note was made of the areas in which children played, the materials they used, and their play behaviors. Running records were used to gather information on the interactions between children and their playmates, and adults in the classroom. The gender groupings of children approached for play and behaviors with chosen playmates were noted. The number of interactions with adults, whether children or adults initiated those interactions and the behaviors of children during interactions with adults were recorded and analyzed.;Findings of this study suggest that, within the Montessori classroom observed there were both similarities and differences in the free play behaviors of preprimary girls and boys. However, there were many individual differences among boys and among girls. As a result, it was sometimes impossible to make generalizations concerning the gender typing of behaviors.