Examining Preschool Children's Perceptions of School

The aim of this research is to examine the school perceptions of preschool children. The study employed a qualitative case study design to explore preschool children's perceptions of school. The research involved 100 children aged 60-72 months from five different preschools during the fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. Data was collected through the 'School Perception Interview Form' and 'School Picture Drawings' to explore the children's perceptions. To analyze the collected data, the study employed content analysis, a common method used in qualitative data analysis. The content analysis process involved four stages: coding the data, identifying themes, organizing codes and themes, and describing and interpreting the findings. The study findings revealed that the children perceived school as a place for learning new things and experiencing happiness. Their favorite activity was art, and they enjoyed the school's garden area. They preferred Lego/blocks and puzzles the most. Overall, they exhibited a positive attitude toward attending school, and their drawings depicted school buildings. In light of all these findings, it is recommended that the physical environments of preschool education institutions be organised, and they should be better equipped by increasing the variety of toys and materials.