Review of studies aimed at bringing social skills for children in preschool period

The fact that human is a living creature who has the ability to think, talk and communicate distinguishes him from other creatures. Since the quality of the communication human establishes with himself and his environment is related to the skills he possesses, it is obvious that social skill are of vital importance in life period of human. This study aims at reviewing studies of bringing social skills for children in preschool period. Within the direction of such objection, 20 experimental studies 45 % (n:9) of which is carried out in Turkey and 55 % (n:11) of which is performed in other countries have been reviewed. Accordingly, it is seen that social skill education programs such as play-based, family or teacher involved programs, programs with drama activities, story activities, cooperative programs, and project - based programs are applied for children in preschool period to gain social skills. As a result of those studies, it is found that social skill education programs are effective over skills such as assertiveness, aggressiveness, social adaptation. In this context, it is seen essential to increase studies aimed at bringing and improving social skills and to extend effective social skill education programs. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.