Abstract
Regarding the meaning of the body contacts which infants perform in play, a longitudinal observation on body contacts was carried out with 3, 4, and 5 years-old children. Based on the classification by Tsukasaki and Muto (2004), the differences among ages were statistically specified and compared. It emerged that particularly 5 years-old children employ "neutral" body contacts, such as "inducement" and "appeal". Based on the results, the body contacts were classified into four types and were then considered by observing and analyzing the context before and after the body contacts of the 5 years-old children arise. In conclusion, it can be said that 5 years-old children use body contacts implicitly, but skillfully as a tool and a means. This suggests that this body contact is that the classified as embodied knowing.
