The Development Of 3-5 Years Old Children's Concepts Of Personal Domain

Personal issues are considered as events that can be decided freely and legitimately by individuality, and which beyond the control of morals and social-conventions. Personal issues are very important for the development of children's self, autonomy, emotions and their socialization. In study 1, 60 mothers with 3,4,5 years of age children were interviewed to assess their conceptions of their children's personal domain at home. Mothers in our Country also established a free domain for their children to decide freely. They thought that clothing, play, food, interest class and playmate are personal events and should be controlled by their children. In study 2, 90 preschool children at 3, 4, 5 years of age, evenly divided by gender, were individually interviewed regarding their conceptions of personal domain at home. There were no significant age differences for compliance, locus of decision and the legitimacy of mother's authority. There are significant age differences for rule contingency. With age, children considered it is not right for them to decide what to play, which class to join in without mother's control. There were no significant gender differences for compliance, locus of decision and the legitimacy of mother's authority. There were significant gender differences for rule contingency. More boys than girls considered it is right for them to decide what to wear, what to play, and which class to join in without mother's control.