Effects of Repetitive Horticultural Activities on Kindergarteners’ Dexterity and Out of Seat Behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of repetitive horticultural activities on the dexterity and out of seat behaviors of 5 years old children. Horticultural activities were conducted from March 3 to April 21, 2017, once a week for 20 minutes per session, a total of 8 sessions. The program was divided into first half (Sessions 1-4) and second half (Sessions 5-8) and horticultural activities were repeatedly carried out. In Sessions 1 and 5, kindergarteners transplanted succulent plants into pots, and observed and managed the plants daily. From Session 2 to 4 and from Session 6 to 8, kindergarteners watered and observed the succulent plants planted in Sessions 1 and 5 and they put flowers on a floral foam (10 × 10 × 10 cm). This study conducted the O Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test in which the number of pins subjects inserted for 30 seconds was counted, and there was a significant difference (p =.000) in the dexterity of the kindergarteners after performing horticultural activities in the result of the repeated measures design ANOVA. The time kindergarteners left their seat for the first time while participating in horticultural activities for 20 minutes was measured using a stopwatch in each session. There was a significant difference (p =.000) in the ANOVA test in changes in their out of seat behavior in Session 8. In addition, there was no significant difference in the dexterity and out of seat behavior of kindergarteners from Session 2 (p =.364, p = .975, respectively) to Session 3 (p =.055, p =.283), but there was a significant difference from Session 4 (p =.042, p =.009) to Session 8 (p =.000, p =.000) as sessions were repeated.