Children’s place preferences based on behavioral observation and photographic experiments in nursery school

Abstract

This study conducted an observational survey of children’s behavior and a photographic experiment on four occasions over a twoyear period in an attempt to ascertain children’s preferences in terms of place. As a result, we understood the following matters. 1) In one nursery school, many children were seen reading picture books in the first and second sessions, but this decreased from the third session and from the fourth session they were engaged in other activities without reading picture books. The other nursery school, activities such as reading picture books, playing with sand, and drawing were continuously observed. 2) An analysis of children’s photographic patterns revealed differences in their tendency to photograph subjects, which appeared to be influenced by the nursery school environment. In one nursery school, the most frequently photographed natural objects were insects and trees. In the other nursery, blocks and fixed play equipment were photographed most frequently in each experiment. 3) Focusing on the relationship between play activities and the subjects photographed, it turned out that each nursery school’s characteristics were photographed, such as a yearning for places that cannot be visited, craft exhibits, and waterways.