Normative Consciousness Suggested from Three- to Five-year-old Children's Verbal Communications:

Focusing on Norms without Giving Reasons

Abstract

To clarify that young children's normative consciousness differs from adult values, three-year-old nursery school children were observed continuously until they had finished nursery school. Episodes were analyzed from three perspectives: (1) children's words showing norms without reasons; (2) children showing norms of words for communication; and (3) teachers helping children communicate with other children. Conclusions: (1) children use norms not only to make playmates obey norms, but also to insist or express negative feelings; (2) norms shown by children can be shared among children even if they did not show reasons; and (3) while the teacher supports children's communication according to their growth, supporting words can lead children to perceive linguistic norms such as avoiding use of inappropriate words. More research, including analysis of peer-relations and the teacher's objective, are needed.