The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of theme-based sand play on preschoolers' peer
competence and delay of gratification. The subjects in this study were 60 four-year-old children from
three early childhood education institutions in K city. The experimental group with theme-based sand
play, the comparison group with free sand play, and the control group without sand play consisted
with 20 preschoolers respectively. The experimental treatment was implemented 20 times during a
10-week period of time, twice a week. The major findings of the study were as follows: First, both
the theme-based sand play and the free sand play were effective in increasing overall peer
competence of the preschoolers. Only the experimental group, however, made significant
improvements in sociability and leadership in peer relations, two sub-factors of peer competence, than
the control group. In terms of prosocial behavior, both the experimental group and the comparison
group showed significant improvements than the control group. Second, regarding the effects on the
preschoolers' delay of gratification, both types of sand play were effective. The findings indicate that
sand play is one of effective activities to bolster the preschoolers' peer competence and delay of
gratification and the purposefully linking the educational themes with the sand play can add its
benefits.