The Relationship between Children’s Imitation Behavior and the Teacher in the Learning of Arts and Handicrafts

Abstract

Imitation is a normal activity for children, and it is a process of learning. However, some educators think that children who imitate are children who are poor at drawing pictures. I think that breaking down such an image of imitating children will lead to their further creative activities. This study analyzed children’s imitation behavior that occurred in everyday class in order to clarify the meaning of imitation as to how it happened, how it changed production, and how it led to learning. The study further attempted to consider how teachers should act on it. The results confirmed many cases in which children overcame difficulties by imitation when they could not progress any further in the production. 39 cases in which what children imitated was related to the evaluation viewpoints were extracted from the total 97 cases, and it was clarified that imitation that leads to “ideas are often that of words or images, and that imitation that leads to “skills” occurs when teachers give “instructions” or “examples.” It was clarified that out of teachers’ relationships with children, “presentation” and “agreement” prompt students to imitate one another.”