Exploring Picture Book-Based Dramatic Play to Foster a Sense of Community in Young Children

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how picture-book-based dramatic play affects the sense of community in 5-year-old children and to suggest ways in which dramatic play can be used in kindergartens. Methods: This study measured and analysed the sense of community of children participating in a picture book-based activity play program for 5-year-olds. Results: The results showed that the children in the experimental group who participated in the picture-book-based dramatic play program had a statistically significant improvement in their sense of community and its sub-factors of belonging, harmony, voluntary participation, public awareness, unity, and mutual influence compared to the control group. These results suggest that picture book-based dramatic play has a positive effect on improving children's sense of community. Conclusion: This study is significant in that it suggests that picture-book-based dramatic play is an effective teaching method for promoting a sense of community in young children and that picture-book-based dramatic play has educational value as a program for promoting a sense of community in educational settings.