Abstract
This study examined how 3-4-year-old class children in kindergarten develop playful expression ability of negative emotions through peer play based on longitudinal data. I focused on situations in which children expressed negative emotions while managing relationships with their peers. In the 3-year-old class, playful expression of negative emotions, including responses to teacher’s actions, were often identified when children played with their peers. In the 4-year-olds’ class, on the other hand, such expression became more spontaneous and diverse among peers, in which children shared negative situations with their peers in a positive way refleced on themselves, self-deprecated, and looked back on their experiences. These findings indicated that playful expression of negative emotions takes significant role in regulating relationships with peers and is important for emotional competence.
