Preschool Children's Attitudes Towards Their Peers with Special Needs

This study explores children's attitudes towards their peers with special needs (SN) at a preschool level. A total of 151 children were examined using theAcceptance Scale for Kindergarteners - Revisedand social demographic questionnaires to collect information from parents and educators. The research included preschool children (5 years old) attending private preschools in a city of Portugal- Leiria-as well as their corresponding parents and educators. Further, 10 classrooms within preschools participated in the study, with a sample of 151 children, 149 parents, and 14 educators. Internal consistency was calculated, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the complete scale was .688. Results revealed that the average score associated with children's attitudes was 18.78 (DP = 5.88). Children have more positive attitudes if they are in contact with peers with special needs regardless of the location (p < .05). Although children who have contact with peers with special needs in classroom have positive attitudes (p < .01) those who have contact in the preschool (outside classroom) have much more (p < .01). The results of this study provide insights into children's attitudes and reveal that closer contact with children with special needs benefits peer attitudes.