The effect of two different early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs in junior high school:

based on the scales of positive attitude toward children; positive attitude to childcare; and, self esteem.

Abstract

  This study aims to compare the effect of two different early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs in junior high school. Three scales were used to measure the effect of the two ECEC programs: positive attitude toward children; positive attitude to childcare; and, self esteem. In one program, junior high school students were paired with young children in one to one situations. In another program, junior high school students participated in kindergarten activity and played with groups of children. Based on the results of questionnaires before and after ECEC, students who scored well and those who did not were chosen. In each case, the scores of positive attitude toward children increased after the ECEC. In the pair situation, the scores of positive attitude to child care also increased after the ECEC. This was particularly noticeable in the case of those who had not scored well originally. Moreover, in the pair situations, the self esteem scores in the lower group also increased.