LAUSR

ABSTRACT This study investigated the relationships that children living in rural regions in Turkey have with the opposite sex and the roles of boys and girls with respect to peer culture. Qualitative data collection methods such as observation, interview, and document analysis were used and the data were analysed through qualitative data analysis methods. During the data collection process, 6-year-old pre-school children were observed for six weeks in the researcher's own classroom and the data were recorded through detailed field notes. The cultural society in which the children live, their activities in the classroom and friendship relations established outside school were found to be important factors that influence the children’s relationships with the opposite sex. Relationships with the opposite sex were observed to differ according to the type of activity in the classroom. Furthermore, the function of the material used during games was found to vary according to relationships with the opposite sex.