The purpose of this study was to recognize children’s experiences of using the
name tag, which is used to choose an interest center, by doing participant-observation
during the free choice activities. The subjects of this study were 24 children who were
5 years old at G kindergarten. The children's experiences of using the name tag were
as follows. According to educational intention of the teachers, children used the name
tag. In other words, there was a rule on the number of children who could enter each
interest center - the name tag played a role in making them follow the rule. Children
could select the play, which they wanted truly, and could practice the planned play by
themselves and could experience various plays. However, atmosphere of the classroom
was competitive between the children who wanted to go into an interest center. The
free play for the children was limited by the rule in relation to the name tag.
Therefore, the children couldn’t do the play that they wanted. In addition, children
couldn’t do integrated activities by using the name tag in interest centers. Lastly, this
study showed that children practiced the free play while children violated the rule
being associated with using the name tag in the class. The results of the study suggest
that the teachers in the education field need to use Interest Center Choice Name Tag
more carefully after comprehensively analyzing the educational effects and effective
utilization method of it and observing children's experiences.