Abstract/Notes: The introduction in 2011 of a universal free preschool year for all children in Ireland prior to attending primary school was heralded as a significant commitment to children and families. As a result of this policy initiative there are increasing numbers of young children accessing preschool provision. However, despite increased access and increased investment in ECEC provision, little is known about the quality of preschool children’s experiences, or the impact of the pedagogical approach on children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement in their learning. Equally there has been no evaluation of the quality or the effectiveness of the preschool provision in supporting children’s development of 21st century skills. This thesis explores how the preschool educator’s image of the child as a learner influences her/his pedagogical approach and how the educator’s pedagogical approach subsequently impacts on children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement in their meaning making processes. The study, an ethnographic comparative study, was conducted across three preschool setting types, Montessori, Play-based and Reggio inspired in the west of Ireland and Boston. The findings identify that children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement are high when their basic needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness are met in an autonomy supportive, child-centred learning environment. In comparison, when the learning environment is controlling and the approach to teaching and learning is didactic and adult-led, children’s levels of wellbeing and involvement are low. These findings have significant implications for policy and practice and provide a compelling argument for the evaluation of the quality of preschool provision in Ireland.

Language: English

Published: Galway, Ireland, 2020

Abstract/Notes: Health protection and social status improvement are complex processes that require multidisciplinary approach. Hereupon the complexity in planning and realization of annual programme plans regarding health and social protection of citizens realized at a local level by the Municipality of Karposh. Through the annual programme activities, the local self-government plans and promotes healthy generations that will acquire healthy eating habits and creates, i.e. provides normal psychosocial development throughout their lives. In order to contribute in this area, the Municipality of Karposh established the Department for Child, Social and Health Care. The way of work and the activities of this Department are prevention, monitoring field conditions for each issue and timely resolution of problems in accordance with the competences of the local self-government and the legislative of the Republic of Macedonia. Of particular importance is the cooperation of the Municipality with other state institutions, the non-governmental sector and the international organizations through which it exchanges knowledge and experiences. From that aspect, the Municipality of Karposh creates programme activities regarding health and social policy of children, equally including children from persons/families at social risk. A number of activities aimed at the non-institutional forms of social protection of the vulnerable groups affected by the effects of poverty and social exclusion and activities for promotion of education are realized. The activities aimed at these target groups include all children from the earliest age, and in some urban communities where the Roma or Albanian population is dominant, special attention is paid to social inclusion and preventive health care of children of these ethnicities. The public awareness of health care of the population is being raised from every aspect through professional workshops, announcements, professional presentations and trainings and other forms of education. These activities are usually conducted by social and health workers and predagogists from the Department for Child, Social and Health Protection and the NGO sector, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and international educational centres such as the “Montessori” Centre. The Municipality of Karposh does not forget its “third age” citizens. Through cultural and entertaining programmes, the youngest assemble and entertain the guardians of retirement homes, “Humane patrols” active on field are organized that help in the daily life of fragile, old and ill persons that are unable to leave their homes. Through its programme activities, the Department for Child, Social and Health Care in the Municipality of Karposh encompasses all groups of citizens on the territory of the local self-government, regardless of their sex, gender, age or ethnicity.

Language: English

ISSN: 1857-6222

Abstract/Notes: Wellbeing, or how people think and feel about their lives, predicts important life outcomes from happiness to health to longevity. Montessori pedagogy has features that enhance wellbeing contemporaneously and predictively, including self-determination, meaningful activities, and social stability. Here, 1905 adults, ages 18-81 (M = 36), filled out a large set of wellbeing scales followed by demographic information including type of school attended each year from 2 to 17. About half the sample had only attended conventional schools and the rest had attended Montessori for between 2 and 16 years (M = 8 years). To reduce the variable set, we first developed a measurement model of wellbeing using the survey data with exploratory then confirmatory factor analyses, arriving at four factors: general wellbeing, engagement, social trust, and self-confidence. A structural equation model that accounted for age, gender, race, childhood SES, and years in private school revealed that attending Montessori for at least two childhood years was associated with significantly higher adult wellbeing on all four factors. A second analysis found that the difference in wellbeing between Montessori and conventional schools existed even among the subsample that had exclusively attended private schools. A third analysis found that the more years one attended Montessori, the higher one's wellbeing as an adult. Unmeasured selection effects could explain the results, in which case research should determine what third variable associated with Montessori schooling causes adult wellbeing. Several other limitations to the study are also discussed. Although some of these limitations need to be addressed, coupled with other research, including studies in which children were randomly assigned to Montessori schools, this study suggests that attending Montessori as a child might plausibly cause higher adult wellbeing.

Language: English

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.721943

ISSN: 1664-1078

Abstract/Notes: Godly Play is an approach to religious education for young children between the ages of three and eight. The Godly Play room, modelled on Montessori’s prepared environment, provides opportunities for young children to respond to Sacred stories, Parables and Liturgical actions presented by the Storyteller through art using any of the materials available to them. However, there is a paucity of research into how different spatial affordances may enhance opportunities for spiritual development in the Godly Play room. This article examines the Godly Play room through the lens of affordance theory. It applies elements of the notion of affordances to three documented anecdotes of Godly Play storytellers to show particular action possibilities enhance opportunities for spiritual development and wellbeing. The analysis highlights the importance of the Storyteller’s guidance, the readily accessible materials, and the dedicated space in which Godly Play is undertaken.

Language: English

DOI: 10.3390/rel13121202

ISSN: 2077-1444

Language: English