Attitudes of preschool children toward their peers with disabilities: a year-long investigation in integrated classrooms.
Changes in choices of preferred playmates by 3- and 4-year-old children were observed over the course of a school year. All of the children in this study participated in planned, fully mainstreamed, same-age preschool classes. Sociometric assessments were obtained from all children without disabilities in October, February, and May of the school year; peer nominations of three "best friends" were obtained at the beginning and end of the school year. The 3-year-old children showed a general decline in the ratings given to all of their peers over the course of the school year. Four-year-old children showed significant preferences for same-sex peers without disabilities as playmates. The implications of these findings for integrated programs are discussed.
Diamond
K
K
Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University.
Le Furgy
W
W
Blass
S
S
D001290:Attitude; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010553:Personality Development; D012928:Social Desirability; D012931:Social Environment