Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the variation in preschoolers' daily activities and self-direction both within and across the US and Korea. For this purpose, observations were made of the types of activities available for young children and initiators of those activities. Participants, ranging age from 28 to 40 months, were drawn from four cultural groups: middle and waking class communities of the US and Korea. Data were obtained through the observation of preschoolers' daily life in natural settings. A total of 5725 observation from 32 preschool children (20 from the US and 12 from Korea) were used in the analyses. To test the differences between nations and/or classes, phi coefficient and chi square tests were employed. The results indicate that preschoolers` activities varied as a function of class differences as well as societal differences. US and Korean children experienced different types of daily activities that reflected socio-cultural values of their respective communities, i.e., independence in the US and interdependence in Korea. US children were observed to be more self-directed than Korean children. In both societies, however, middle class children were more likely than their worlting class counterparts to be self-directed.