Abstract
The objective of this study was to clarify the characteristics of children who were considered to have no major problems at their five-year-old health checkups, but who were then found to be of concern in elementary school. The study examined the possibility of using the five-year-old health checkup results in the follow-ups. A questionnaire was distributed to teachers in charge of first-year elementary school students. The participants were asked to name children about whom they were concerned, and their responses were then compared with the results of these children’s five-year- old health checkups. Findings indicated that 11 children(5.1%)recorded five-year-old health checkup evaluation results of “follow- up observation,” while a further 10(4.7%) were recorded as being “not of concern.” Following an analysis of the identified 21 children, it was found that 1)there were many items within shiritori(a Japanese word game)that they did not successfully complete; 2)there was a large discrepancy in the environment of preschool facilities and elementary schools; and 3)it was suggested that birth month difference had an effect. It was concluded that, when the fiveyear- old health checkup results were used in the follow-ups, activities to improve phonological awareness should be incorporated if the child often failed at shiritori. It would also be necessary to examine support for these children’s environmental transitions, particularly with regard to considering the difference in environment between preschool facilities and elementary schools, as well as the impact of birth month difference on evaluations.
