건강증진활동에 참여한 예비유아교사의 경험과 의미 탐색

Exploration into Pre-service Early Childhood Teachers’ Experience of Participation in Health Promotion Activities and Its Meaning

Objective: This study aimed to explore the experience and meaning of pre-service early childhood teachers who practiced health promoting activities for themselves. Methods: Research participants were 115 pre-service early childhood teachers enrolled in the health education for children course at one college in G region. The reports of activity records of their eight-week long health promotion activities were collected as qualitative data followed by content analysis being implemented. Results: First, the experience of the health promoting activities the participants took part in was categorized into ‘Early phase of experience: A mix of worries and anticipation, and success and failure’, ‘Mid phase of experience: Being motivated by physical changes and records’, and ‘Late phase of experience: Continuous execution through habituation.’ Second, the meaning of health promotion activities the participants took part in was categorized into ‘A great opportunity for introspection’, ‘A meaningful start of college life’, and ‘A valuable chance to consider desirable roles of a teacher for early childhood health education.’Conclusion/Implications: The results of this study suggest that pre-service early childhood teachers should pay close attention to their health management, and that contents that emphasize the importance of teachers’ health should be included in health education.