Analysis of Early Childhood Teachers' Perceptions of After-School Programs in Chungbuk Region

This study aims to investigate early childhood teachers' perceptions of after-school program operations. 184 early childhood teachers in the Chungbuk region participated, and descriptive statistics and reliability analysis were conducted using the SPSS program. Firstly, among the after-school programs in the Chungbuk region, early childhood teachers preferred after-school activities linked to the curriculum, and highly recognized that after-school programs provide various educational opportunities for children. Teachers highly recognized the need for linking the Nuri curriculum with after-school programs, supporting local-based free play according to children's interests, and positive interactions with peers. Secondly, regarding the improvement direction for after-school programs as perceived by early childhood teachers in the Chungbuk region, strengthening psychological and emotional stability support for children staying in after-school programs for extended periods was considered the most important improvement task, while there was low recognition of expanding after-school program operating hours. Based on the above, implications for operating after-school programs reflecting the characteristics of the Chungbuk region were derived.