Prosocial behaviors of five-year-old children in sixteen learning/activity centers

Prosocial behaviors that occurred when five-year-olds interacted within different learning/activity centers in a multi-age preschool setting were investigated. Using field observations and interviews, researchers examined the prosocial behaviors of nine target five-year-old children. The children and their 20 younger classmates were observed for a total of 45 hours. The 415 observed prosocial behaviors occurred in 16 learning/activity centers. There were significantly more proximity seeking, helping, and sharing behaviors than other kinds of prosocial behaviors in the centers. The children were most prosocial in the creating type centers. The authors share reasons for the findings and implications for classrooms.