Research Article

Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace

Volume: 16 Number: 2 April 25, 2026
TR EN

Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the play behaviors of minority preschool children in the Western Thrace region in group settings, examine the relationship between their play behaviors and social competence, and identify the variables associated with these behaviors. A correlational survey model, a subtype of the general survey method, was employed. The study sample consisted of 10 preschool teachers and 80 minority children (45 girls, 35 boys) aged three to four, attending five preschool institutions in Komotini and Xanthi, Western Thrace, Greece. Data were collected using a “Demographic Information Form,” the Play Assessment in Group Settings (PAGS), and the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation–30 Scale (SCBE-30). The data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. The findings indicated a strong positive correlation between play performance scores and social competence, and a moderate negative correlation between play performance scores and anxiety–withdrawal. No significant correlation was found between play performance and anger–aggression. Play behaviors significantly differed according to the mother’s educational level, whereas no significant differences were observed for other demographic variables.

Keywords

References

  1. Ahmetoğlu, E., Aşık-Öztürk, M., & Acar, İ. H. (2017). Validity and reliability study of the play assessment in group settings [Grup ortamlarındaki oyunun değerlendirilmesi geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması]. Turkish Studies Educational Sciences, 13(27), 19–32.
  2. Ahmetoğlu, E., Aşık-Öztürk, M., & Acar, İ. H. (2018). Validity and reliability study of the play assessment in group settings [Grup ortamlarındaki oyunun değerlendirilmesi geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması]. Turkish Studies Educational Sciences, 13(27), 19–32.
  3. Ahmetoğlu, E., & Ercan, Z. G. (2014). Preschool teachers’ perceptions on problem solving skills. In M. Yasar, O. Ozgun, & J. Galbraith (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives and research on early childhood education (pp. 24–32). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  4. Al-Fahham, A. A. (2018). Development of new LSD formula when numbers of observations are unequal. Open Journal of Statistics, 8(2), 258–263.
  5. Aşık-Öztürk, M. (2018). Assessment of play in group settings in preschool institutions [Okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarında grup ortamlarındaki oyunun değerlendirilmesi] (Unpublished master’s thesis). Trakya University, Institute of Social Sciences, Edirne, Turkey.
  6. Aşık-Öztürk, M., & Ahmetoğlu, E. (2018, May 11–13). Assessment of play in group settings in preschool institutions [Okul öncesi eğitim kurumlarında grup ortamlarındaki oyunun değerlendirilmesi]. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference of Strategic Research on Scientific Studies and Education (pp. 240–264). Vienna, Austria.
  7. Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press. (Metin içinde atıf yok, atıf formatı genel bilgiye dayalı) Carlton, M. P., & Winsler, A. (1999). School readiness: The need for a paradigm shift. School Psychology Review, 28(3), 338–352.
  8. Casby, M. W. (2003). The development of play in infants, toddlers, and young children. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 24(4), 163–174.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Early Childhood Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 25, 2026

Submission Date

September 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 23, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 2

APA
Moustafa, N., & Ahmetoğlu, E. (2026). Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi, 16(2), 1001-1022. https://doi.org/10.24315/tred.1781488
AMA
1.Moustafa N, Ahmetoğlu E. Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;16(2):1001-1022. doi:10.24315/tred.1781488
Chicago
Moustafa, Nourat, and Emine Ahmetoğlu. 2026. “Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace”. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi 16 (2): 1001-22. https://doi.org/10.24315/tred.1781488.
EndNote
Moustafa N, Ahmetoğlu E (April 1, 2026) Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi 16 2 1001–1022.
IEEE
[1]N. Moustafa and E. Ahmetoğlu, “Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace”, Trakya Eğitim Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 1001–1022, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.24315/tred.1781488.
ISNAD
Moustafa, Nourat - Ahmetoğlu, Emine. “Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace”. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi 16/2 (April 1, 2026): 1001-1022. https://doi.org/10.24315/tred.1781488.
JAMA
1.Moustafa N, Ahmetoğlu E. Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;16:1001–1022.
MLA
Moustafa, Nourat, and Emine Ahmetoğlu. “Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace”. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 1001-22, doi:10.24315/tred.1781488.
Vancouver
1.Nourat Moustafa, Emine Ahmetoğlu. Evaluation of Preschool Children’s Play Behaviors in Group Settings in Western Thrace. Trakya Eğitim Dergisi. 2026 Apr. 1;16(2):1001-22. doi:10.24315/tred.1781488