다문화 아동의 원예활동 및 식물 선호도 분석

Analysis of Characteristics and Preference of Horicultural Activities and Plants of Multicultural Children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preferences of characteristics of plants, horticulture, and view of nature among children from multicultural families and Korean children in order to provide basic data to develop a horticultural educational program for multicultural children and cultivate educational materials. In an effort to fully achieve the purpose, the investigator conducted a survey with 30 children from pilot schools for multiculture in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province and multicultural families in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and with 60 fourth-graders from elementary schools in Seoul. The analysis results of their responses were as follows: First, Korean children showed higher preference of horticultural activities and plants compared with multicultural children. Second, children showed the highest level of recognition and preference for flowering plants, which are the most popular, easily accessible in daily life, and splendid, except for the factor of nationality. Third, multicultural children regarding plants as their friends and having a great need for someone they could feel intimate with like little siblings. The findings show that plants can be the objects of empathy among children from multicultural families. Fourth, preferences for horticultural activities were also examined among multicultural and Korean children. As a result, multicultural children had a preference for indoor gardens and field trips to see plants, which indicates that children from multicultural families have fewer opportunities for field trips and experiential study than Korean children and are much interested in the world. Fifth, preferences for horticultural plants were also surveyed among multicultural and Korean children. The result reveals that Korean children had a greater preference for all plants than children from multicultural families.