DIFFERENCES IN LANGUAGE SKILLS FIRST GRADE STUDENTS IN RELATION TO THE LENGTH OF ATTENDING KINDERGARTEN

Aim of this research was to examine differences in linguistic abilities of first year students in elementary schools depending on time spent in kindergarten. In research, sample of surveyed students consisted of 190 first year students in elementary schools, both genders and ages between 72 and 89 months. The research was conducted in elementary schools on the territory of municipality Maglaj in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Results of this research have shown that during the evaluation of differences in linguistic abilities of first year students in elementary schools depending on time spent in kindergarten, there is statistically significant difference in grammatical variable that describes morphological completion. Children that attended kindergarten more than three school years, showed statistically better results with recognition abilities, understanding and usage of common morphological forms of Bosnian language, compared to children who attended kindergarten only for legally obliging preschool time (minimal 150 hours during one school year). We have to point out that respondents who attended kindergarten more than three school years showed better results in almost every variable that describes linguistic abilities but obtained difference did not appear as statistically significant. Professionals who deal with education and rehabilitation of children in development period should educate and stimulate parents to enroll their children in kindergarten in order to stimulate their speaking - linguistic development and other areas that children are developing in.