EXAMINATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SIX-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN ’ S SELF-CONCEPT PERCEPTION LEVELS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVELS OF THEIR FAMILIES

Preschool period is the first and the most important one of the sensitive and critical periods in a lifecycle. The self-concept of the child getting the essential support in early ages develops in a healthy way. Many different factors have effects on self concept in the preschool period. These include mainly socio-economic level related factors which also have effects on such matters as families’ lifestyles, economic and educational statuses. Determining the extent of the effects of these factors on children’s self-concepts is very important to help them develop a healthy self concept perception. The purpose of the present research study is to examine the relationships between the self-concept perception levels of the six-year-old children attending pre-school education institutions and their socio-economic levels. To achieve this purpose, such factors as socio-economic level of the family, number of children in the family and the educational status of parents forming the frame of socio-economic factors were compared with the selfconcept perception levels of the children. Key Words, Self-Concept Perception, Pre School, Socio-Economic Level Development, in general sense, is defined as changes and continuity taking place within the course of time in humans‟ bodies, thoughts and behaviors depending on biological and environmental factors [1]. The developmental process of a human being begins in the prenatal period and continues until death and has a cumulative structure affected by many different factors. Although it covers the same stages in all human beings, it is a natural process observed differently in every human being. In this process, physiological and psychological factors overlap and affect the nature of development mutually. Self concept undertaking a very important role in humans‟ life line constitutes a part of personal development in the psycho-social area. Self concept, which can be defined as a person‟s impressions about him/herself as a result of his/her experiences, has effects on the individual‟s whole life and all the areas of it [2]. Self concept is derived from what a person knows about him/herself, what he or she learns from others‟ opinions about him or her and his or her self-evaluations. Most of the time, these pieces of information and evaluations come from the environment availably [3]. In this respect, self concept is closely related to social development as well. Development of self concept is a slow process continuing lifelong and changing with age. Selfconcept is not only a person‟s ability to describe him/herself but also it is the ability to get to know him/herself and become aware of him/herself as a separate being and includes values described person-specific, desires and attitudes [4]. The most important period in the formation of self-concept is the period of childhood. Events lived in this period compose a person‟s selfjudgment and values [5]. In the preschool period, it is important that the close environment and the family of a child should help him or her develop a healthy self-concept. Children can develop a positive self-concept through understanding themselves and becoming aware of their potentials. In general, being aware of oneself is very constant. For this reason, continuously providing positive feedback is more effective that than giving ordinary compliments. Adults can influence children in pre-puberty