Original scientific paper
LEGO Material in the Programme of Early Childhood and Preschool Education
Nataša Cvijanović
orcid.org/0000-0001-5519-2853
; Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska
Danica Mojić
; Children's Kindergarten Čika Jova Zmaj in Bijeljina
Abstract
The paper presents the possibilities and conditions for applying the LEGO DUPLO Play Box material and the effects of its use on child development, as well as on the work of the kindergarten teachers. It is based on the research carried out in four preschool institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina that were included in the project "Application of LEGO construction material in preschool institutions". Within the project, the material and teacher training for its use were provided by the Danish LEGO Foundation that supports the realization of such activities in the South African Republic, Mexico and India, and, in European region, in Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the research, thirty kindergarten teachers were assessing the possibilities and conditions for the application of the LEGO DUPLO Play Box material through the Assessment Scale of the application of LEGO material in the Programme of Early Childhood and Preschool Education. The effects of the application of the LEGO DUPLO Play Box material both on the development of the child and on the work of the kindergarten teachers were monitored through the Protocol for Observing Learning Activity in which LEGO material is used, in relation to the kindergarten teachers and regarding the aspects of child development. The results of the survey show that the community as a factor does not provide significant support in terms of promoting and emphasizing the importance and significance of the construction play for children and for their further development, and that the institutional factor (associations, organizations, stores selling toys) does not sufficiently promote the importance of play. In addition, the effect of the application of Lego material in the Programme of Early Childhood and Preschool Education has been confirmed, but only in the context of the work of kindergarten teachers. The effect of the application of Lego material on the aspects of child development has not been observed, which means that there is no difference in achieving the expected outcomes of children's learning during the application of the Programme with or without LEGO material. This implies that the implementation of the entire Programme of Early Childhood and Preschool Education in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina is based on play, as well as on the construction play, but also that with the application of LEGO materials it is possible to achieve the planned learning outcomes and thus encourage the development of the child in all their aspects.
Keywords
aspects of child development; playing activity; construction material; pedagogical perspective of play; social-ecological theory
Hrčak ID:
200224
URI
Publication date:
28.2.2018.
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