정보 그림책을 활용한 창의성 활동이 유아의 비판적 사고와 문제해결력에 미치는 효과

The Effects of Creative Activities Using Information Picture Books on Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Ability of Young Children

This study examined the effects of creative activities using informational picture books on young children's critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. The participants were 37 five-year-old children enrolled in Y Childcare Center and U Childcare Center in U Metropolitan City. Pre- and post-tests were conducted using Kim(2002) Critical Thinking Test and Ahn(1992) Problem-Solving Ability Test. Creative activities were implemented over 16 sessions using four informational picture books, with sessions held twice a week. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and paired t-tests with SPSS 27.0. The results are as follows. First, creative activities utilizing informational picture books had a positive effect on young children's critical thinking. Second, these activities also contributed to the enhancement of problem-solving abilities. These findings suggest that informational picture books serve as an effective educational tool for fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in young children.