DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD'S SPATIAL CONCEPTION ON THE HOUSE REPRESENTATION

Abstract

This study examined the development of spatial knowledge in a house from the model of a child's own house, using the model house kit. The experiments involved 41 children (6-14 years old). The results were as follows: 1) Examining both models' features and making procedure, children comprehend house space with interior elements such as furniture in their early developmental stage. 2) Comparing the model and the house plan, children first understand how the space is used. And children understand house space only from an inside view. In the last stage, children acquired the knowledge of a house structure by its walls. 3) Children paid attention more to plane location than to the difference of the level in a house.