Developing Social Behavior of Pre-school Children by Using Thai Folk Plays

Abstract

This research aimed to; 1) study social behaviors of pre-school children after having the activities of local Thai folk plays; and 2) compare their social behaviors before and after having the activities of local Thai folk plays. The participants of the study were 11 preschool boys and girls, aging from 5-6 years old at Ban Non-Suwansang Wittaya School under Nakhonratchasima Primary Education Service Area Office 2 in the second semester of the 2019 academic year. The experiment was carried out four days per week with 45 minutes of activity per day within a two-week period. The instruments used in the study were lesson plans, sets of video recordings, and observation forms of social behaviors. The instruments were examined by the three experts in research, curriculum, and teaching, and early childhood education to check the correctness of the structure and content, media, and assessment. The index of item-objective congruence (IOC) value was between 0.67 - 1.00. Two observers used for the video analysis and the reliability of the observers was 0.90. 

The results of the study revealed that the social behavior scores of early childhoods after the experiment (= 17.27) were significantly higher than the previous one 13 ( = 13.00) at the level of .05. The pre-experiment score was 13.00 ( = 13.00), and the after experiment was 17.27 ( = 17.27). These values ​​were significantly different at 0.05 (Z = -2,988, p = .003). Hence, the study revealed that activities integrated with Thai folk games can enhance early childhood's desirable social behaviors.