Peer social capital as a mechanism for positive behavior development in elementary-age children: a qualitative analysis in informal learning settings

Abstract

Children's positive behaviour plays a crucial role in their overall development. One of the ways they develop it is through peer relationships. Based on James Coleman`s Social Capital perspective, peer relationships are the social capital for children to develop and has positive correlation to a better quality of life. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role of peer social capital in developing children`s positive behaviour in an informal learning environment. This is a qualitative descriptive study with study case approach involving 15 children age 7-10 years old and 2 facilitators. The findings revealed that peer social capital contributed significantly to the children`s positive behaviour development. The children collectively learned, exercised, and promoted the values of mutual respect, mutual support, remind each other, and empathy toward others. The facilitators recognized and appreciated the children’s efforts to learn and strengthen positive character traits that could support their development over time. The positive peer relationships provide solid social capital for the children to learn and to develop better. This study presented practical insights from social capital perspective for children’s behaviour development and expected can be used for other aspects of child development.