Dressing toddlers at the Emmi Pikler nursery school in Budapest: caregiver instrumental behavioral pattern

Abstract

The goal of this research is to analyze the instrumental behavior of the caregiver at the Emmi Pikler nursery school in Budapest while dressing children from two to three years old to go outdoors to play in the garden. In order to study this routine in its usual context, the observational methodology has been chosen, adopting an ad hoc field format. The results show that the caregiver follows an instrumental behavioral pattern while dressing children, even when the child`s attention, interest or desire moves away from the ongoing activity. To the extent that these educational behaviors involve the child’s cooperation in the task, they promote both the child’s understanding of the concept of care, and the acquisition of dressing skills.