DEMOGRAPHICS OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (4-5 YEAR OLD)

Abstract

The research was carried out with the aim of identifying the impact of demographic factors on the expression of communication skills of 4-5-year-old children in Montenegro. The influence of several factors that can affect the speech development (gender, educational level of mother and father, birth order, length of stay in kindergarten and the age subgroup within the same year) has been examined. This is a transverse study. From the overall, four-part model of the Gunzberg II test, we highlighted items related to communication in the order of age 4 and 5. Items were observed in relation to development standards and in relation to the Curriculum in preschool institutions. The sample is consisted of 639 children from 17 kindergartens. The results of the research suggest that the participants of this research do not have enough developed communication skills in accordance with the standards for appropriate ages. The variables we tested as independent did not show a constant impact on the appearance of differences in some tasks. In order to improve childrenʼs communication development, it would be necessary to: a. redesign the curriculum, b. develop programs of systematic parent training; and c. reduce the number of children in one educational group.Keywords: communicative skills; curriculum; differences among children; Gunzberg II test; preschool child.