A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Children's Behaviour during Their First Year in a Preschool

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Abstract
In Germany and Italy 16 children (8 in each country) were observed during their first year in preschool. An average of 50 five-minutes samples in Germany and 38 in Italy were analysed with regard to certain play and behaviour categories. The comparison revealed differences in 'looking around' and 'body contact' (both more in Italy), 'talking to somebody', 'automanipulation' (both more in Germany), and 'the number of children playing together' (German children preferred to play with more than one child, while Italian children played more often in dyads or alone). In both cultures children preferred the same age children for social play and the same sex children for parallel play and showed a decline of 'interactions with the teacher' and 'looking around' over the year. Sex differences were found in both cultures for 'object conffict'.

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