A STUDY ON THE SPACE COMPOSITION OF THE NURSERY SPACE WITH CORNERS FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD'S PLAY ACT: A study on comer planning according to the child's development

In the institution which performs free nursing, it is important to clarify the relation between a corner and change of how children play. Change of how children play has a long-term seasonal change and a short-term daytime change. In our previous report, we analyzed the use characteristics of the corner in the nursery room from the viewpoint of the seasonal changes of the play act. This paper aimed to explain the space composition of the nursery space with corners by detailed analysis of development on the change of child's play act in the free nursing in a day. As we did in the previous report, behavior observing investigation through video photography was conducted at four nursery rooms in two kindergartens. The play act under free nursing was checked every 2.5 minutes, and then change of play act was analyzed. Results are described below. #1) The 3 years-old child performs various plays in many cases. As age becomes high, children come to play intensively and develop play. #2) After the pattern of the place in play acts is observed, there is a central corner easily connected to the other corner. #3)The analysis demonstrated that multiple corners, rather than a single corner, induce children to play more activity. In order to develop the play act, in addition to a setting of each corner, it is also necessary to provide the open space intentionally.