Observation of Object Preferences of Interest by Children Aged Between 4 and 8 in Museums: Antalya Museum Examples

This study aimed to investigate the interest and perceptions of children aged between 4 and 8 towards the museum and the objects in the museum through their own experiences in the natural environment. The design of the study was of qualitative research design. The study group was composed of participating 12 children from among those who were visiting the museum with their family, relations or school group. The observation of these children during their visit in Antalya museum as the natural environment focused on what they engaged in, what they directed their attention to, what kind of process they underwent and their general interest. The data obtained through these observations were interpreted using content analysis. According to the findings obtained the monuments to which children directed the highest attention was statues, remains of sarcophaguses and tombs. It was observed that children asked such questions about the monuments as what the monument is, what it was made of, who used it, how and where it was excavated; that they produced such responses as laughter, fear and appreciation toward the monuments in the museum; and that they made comments related to the fashion in which the monuments were exhibited in the museum.