Wychowanie i kształcenie dziecka w dobie przeobrażeń edukacyjnych – działalność Przedszkola Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego

Abstract

Child education in the age of educational transformations – activities of the Kindergarten of the University of Łódź

There is a new educational centre for pre-school children in Łódź, which is organizationally and legally related to a public university. The Kindergarten of the University of Łódź was established on the initiative of university authorities, which, in order to meet the needs of its employees and students, established a centre for children aged 3-6 in June 2012. The institution was officially opened on 01 September 2012. At present, the University Kindergarten runs two groups, each composed of 22 children at various ages, in two classrooms. The Kindergarten is open from Monday to Friday, 07.00 a.m. to 05.00 p.m. Care and educational activities in the University Kindergarten are conducted based on the pre-school core curriculum and pre-school educational programmes titled “Dobry start przedszkolaka” [“Good Start for a Pre-School Child”] and “Odkryjmy Montessori raz jeszcze” [“Let’s Discover Montessori Once Again”]. Maria Montessori’s pedagogical system is used in work with children. During the first year of operation, work was focused on two issues, i.e. adaptation of children to institutional circumstances and development of independence. The latter issue is still the main area of the kindergarten’s work. Independence of children is developed in various fields, including self-service, preparation of place for working or playing, and solving conflicts by children. The educational space inside the kindergarten is complemented with an interestingly arranged garden and a playground with diverse and multi-functional equipment. This is a place where children play every day, individually or together with their friends. The kindergarten is a non-public institution run by the University of Łódź.

Key words: - pre-school education - kindergartens in Łódź - educational initiatives of the University of Łódź - Montessori system