A Comparative Study On The Characteristics And Influencing Factors Of Mixed-age Children’s Peer Interaction In The Role Play

Peer interaction between preschool children is an important way in forcing their development in life and study,while the role play in mixed-age classes is one of the most similar learning and developing environment to the children’s life experience,thus it is meaningful to make a study on the characteristics and influencing factors of the mixed-age children’s peer interaction in role play.This research used the video observation and field observation,which combined time sampling with event sampling together,so that it is not only a qualitative research but a quantitative research.This study aims at reaching a conclusion about the characteristics of the mixed-age children’s peer interaction in role play and its influencing factors after the analysis of the roles,materials and rules so as to offer more specific suggestions to the education practice.This study took one mixed-age class in a kindergarten as the research object and concluded that the general characteristics of children’s interaction and the characteristics in four dimensions and relations between them,through the analysis of mixed-age characteristics of children’s peer interaction in the role play.Besides,,it also concluded influencing factor through the analysis of the role,materials and the rules in the role play.Thus,we can have a better research on the basis of a more accurate and the objective environment.Here are the conclusions taken in the mixed-age role play:first, children in different ages have differences in communicative objects, while their communication frequency and duration are relatively similar. Second,both communicative objects and communication frequency, duration of different ages have gender differences.Third,there are significant gender differences in the three dimensions of language mode,action mode and communication dominance,especially in the middle class in kindergarten.At the same time, there exist gender differences in all dimensions.Fourth,there are certain relationships between different dimensions in peerinteraction.Fifth, primary and secondary roles have an impact on children’s peer interaction.Sixth, the use of different materials in role play have different impact on peer interaction. Seventh, the play rules have an impact on children’s peer interaction.According to the results of this study,we try to give some specific suggestions targeted educators’ play guide: first, try to create mixed-age environment and meet the demand of children’s communication; Second, focus on critical period of middle class in kindergarten to promote early childhood development; Third, take advantage of gender and develop good character; Fourth, pay attention to individual differences,enhance comprehensive interaction index; Fifth, with the support of role and material, promote children’s communication ability.