The purpose of this study was to analyze the play activities of 14 to 16 months
infants at childcare centers during early adjustment through qualitative case study. The
research problems according to this purpose of study are as follows :
First, ‘How are the play activities of infants doing with mothers during early
adjustment to childcare centers?’ Second, ‘How are the play activities of infants
doing after being separated to mothers during the early adjustment to childcare
centers?’ Third, ‘How are the play activities of infants doing when forming
attachment with teachers during the early adjustment to childcare centers?’ Fourth,
‘How are the play activities of infants doing with peer group during the early
adjustment to childcare centers?’
The 14 to 16 month aged three infants at S childcare center in Seoul were
studied. Collected data was transcribed, and analyzed through coding. Finally, the
data was categorized, analyzed and interpreted.
The results of this study are as follows. First, Infants started the early adjustment
with mothers in day care centers, but as the play behavior of mothers led exploration
activity of infants, the exploration of infants all differed from each other. Second,
After infants are separated from mothers, they can continue playing games for a little
while, but went to find their mothers by feeling uneasy of the situation. Third, When
a teacher plays with a infant but soon shifts his or her attention to a different infant,
he becomes tearful, looks for his mother, and throws himself into the teacher's arms.
When a teacher played games next to a crying baby by making interaction of
supporting games to a crying infant, they concentrated on games more and showed
continuous functional play. Fourth, Infants did various explorations while concentrating
on one object next to a peer. Infants became acquainted with peers and played
games side by side in social play standard of having interest in each other while
playing different games right next to each other. Infants stacked blocks and made a
structure that they called a cake, and played an imagination play of a birthday party.