Abstract
This research aimed to evaluate factors necessary for an effective reformation toward realizing athletic meets that value the autonomy of young children. Speeches by early childhood education and care center directors who successfully reformed athletic meets were analyzed by using the Modified-Grounded Theory Approach. The analysis revealed that there were five factors attributable to the reformation: “Obstacle of the reformation of athletic meets,” “Opportunity to re-evaluate the current organization,” “Primary benefit of the reformation,” “Reconsideration of early childhood education and care,” and “Effects of reformation.” In particular, obstacles arose from the stereotype about athletic meets preconceived through people’s experiences and their own expectations of early childhood education and care. In addition, key reasons for the re-evaluation were related to the director’s will and management skills. Through discussion with parents and staff, the directors pursued a new way to educate and care for children, enabling reforms to athletic meets along with the improvement of early childhood education and care.
