The present study aimed at analyzing the content of the stories introduced to kindergarteners in the Sultanate of Oman in the light of language development criteria (LDC). In order to fulfill this aim, the study attempted to answer the following questions:
1 What are the language development criteria necessary for kindergarteners which
should be found in the stories introduced to them? To what extent are these criteria found in the stories introduced to kindergarteners in the Sultanate of Oman?
3 What is the suggested framework for the language development criteria in
kindergarteners' stories? To answer the first question;
The researcher prepared a list of Language Development Criteria, which was reviewed by a jury of specialists. After modifying the list in the light of the jury's views the list was put in the form of a content analysis card for the targeted stories. The card contained four main dimensions comprising of 47 LDC. The reliability coefficient was acceptable (0.72).
The answer of the second question required the analysis of 50% of the topics of the targeted stories. The results revealed the existence of:
*Word criteria to a large extent in a percentage of 66.7%) of the analyzed stories, to a medium extent in a percentage of (9.7%) of the analyzed stories, to a small extent in a percentage of (23.6%) of the analyzed stories.
* Sentence criteria to a large extent in a percentage of (26.3%) of the analyzed stories, to a medium extent in a percentage of (25%) of the analyzed stories, to a small extent in a percentage of (48.7%) of the analyzed stories.
* Idea criteria to a large extent in a percentage of (91.4%) of the analyzed stories, to a medium extent in a percentage of (5.9%) of the analyzed stories, to a small extent in a percentage of (2.7%) of the analyzed stories.
* Theme criteria to a large extent in a percentage of (51.6%) of the analyzed stories, to a medium extent in a percentage of (13.5%) of the analyzed stories, to a small extent in a percentage of (35%) of the analyzed stories.
In general, the current study concluded that idea criteria existed to a large extent in the stories introduced to kindergarteners. As for word criteria and theme criteria, they existed to a medium extent, yet sentence criteria existed to a small extent which indicates that more attention is needed for sentence criteria introduced in these stories.
In the light of these results, the study answered the third question, which required a suggested framework for Language Development Criteria that should exist in the stories introduced to Kindergarteners in the Sultanate of Oman.
The study also presented a number of recommendations, the most important of which are:
1. Training kindergarten teachers on the skill of choosing suitable stories for the activities of
the kindergarten program. 2. Including stories which stand up for the language development criteria in the textbooks of
the kindergarten curriculum in the Sultanate of Oman. 3. Adopting the framework which the current study suggested.
The study made some suggestions for further research; two of which are: 1. A study aiming at analyzing the content of stories in the light of social development criteria. 2. A study aiming at evaluating the way stories are introduced to kindergarteners in the Sultanate of Oman.