본 연구는 문화기술적 연구를 통하여 생태유아교육기관에서의 유아들의 놀이를 구체적으로 관찰하고 기술함으로써 생태유아교육기관에서의 유아들의 놀이모습과 그 의미를 드러내고자 하였다. 본 연구의 연구문제는 다음과 같다. 1) 생태유아교육기관에서의 유아들의 놀잇감은 어떠한가? 2) 생태유아교육기관에서의 유아들의 놀이특성은 어떠한가? 본 연구의 연구기간은 약 1년 2개월이다. 연구결과, 놀잇감은 아이들이 찾은 놀잇감, 아이들이 만든 놀잇감, 교사가 제공한 놀잇감으로 범주화 되었으며 놀이특성은 아이들이 만들어가는 놀이, 계절과 절기에 따른 놀이, 공터놀이, 일과하나 되는 놀이, 일상화 된 몸짓놀이로 범주화 되었다.

The purpose of this study is to examine children's play in the eco early childhood educare center. Ethnographic methods were used including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and the analysis of documents. The findings of this study are summarized as follows: play materials consist of what children found by themselves, what children created, and what teachers provided. Characteristics of children's play are children-made-play, play in accordance with four seasons, open-space play, play like work, and body movement play. The data for this study were collected in a child-care center which follows the philosophy of eco early childhood educare program. Therefore, the further studies need to extend to more eco early childhood educare center. The research method of this study is mainly focused on ethnographic approach. Thus, further studies need to employ quantitative research method to support the findings of the qualitative research.

The purpose of this study is to examine children's play in the eco early childhood educare center. Ethnographic methods were used including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and the analysis of documents. The findings of this study are summarized as follows: play materials consist of what children found by themselves, what children created, and what teachers provided. Characteristics of children's play are children-made-play, play in accordance with four seasons, open-space play, play like work, and body movement play. The data for this study were collected in a child-care center which follows the philosophy of eco early childhood educare program. Therefore, the further studies need to extend to more eco early childhood educare center. The research method of this study is mainly focused on ethnographic approach. Thus, further studies need to employ quantitative research method to support the findings of the qualitative research.

eco early childhood educare, ethnographic study, play