Analysis of Writing Characteristics in Young Children's Writing Activities

Purpose: This study aims to understand the characteristics of general writing found by observingand analyzing the processes and results of young children's participation in writing activities. Theeducational value of writing derived from this can be applied to everyday situations, including youngchildren's play and daily life, and is expected to be the basic data for field teachers to establisheducational plans. Methods: In this study, seven homeroom teachers working at public kindergartens located in S Cityand a total of 90 young children aged three, four, and five in each class participated. From December1 to December 23, 2022, teachers in each class provided one pre-selected common writing activityand one free writing activity, and then observed and recorded the writing process and results of youngchildren. The data collected in this study were young children observation records, writing results,interview data with teachers. And a circular and iterative data analysis was conducted through thetriangular verification method. Results: As a result of analyzing the writing activity process and results of young children, a totalof four writing characteristics were derived. The first was ‘totality’ containing characteristics otherthan the young children's writing skills, the second was ‘performance’ in which young childrendemonstrate other abilities for writing, the third was ‘contextuality’ in which they practiced writingin the background, and the fourth was ‘learning possibility’ that can be used 'well' in the processof learning and mastering educational areas. Conclusion: Based on the four writing characteristics derived through the analysis of writing processesand results, this study sought ways to educate and guide field teachers. In addition, by proposingthe concept of 'writing competency' based on the context consistent with the concept and characteristicsof competency, it suggests that it is necessary to look at young children’s writing from a morecomprehensive and multifaceted aspect.