Influence of Environmental Factors on Social Skills of Preschool Children in Ekiti State

The study focused on the influence of environmental factors on social skills of preschool children in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State. Observation and correlation design was adopted; the population of the study consists of all public primary school teachers in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The sample size for the study consisted of ten (10) preschool teachers and one hundred (100) preschool children selected from ten primary schools in the sampled local government area were randomly selected using ballot system. Two self-designed instruments were used for the study. These were the Preschool Children Rating Scale (PSCRS) and Social Skills Checklist (SSC), and the reliability coefficient yielded was 0.71 and 0.80, respectively, using Cronbach Alpha. These results showed that the instruments were reliable and were used for the study. Data was analysed using Pearson’s Moment Correlation and frequency count. The results indicated that social skills influenced preschool children behavior and lack of it could lead to poor physical and mental health, depression and anxiety among them and brought about stress and loneliness in children. Based on the findings it was concluded that social skills influenced the preschool children behavior. Therefore, it is advised that parents and educators take on the duty of ensuring that their children have a solid moral education in order to foster positive social performance and skills. Children who behave properly should receive gifts and awards from their families, schools, and society as a whole to encourage the development of their social skills. Due to the fact that schools are the secondary means through which students are socialized, social skills instruction and practice should take place there.