Development of potentials and competences through the KOKODA preschool

Lasta Pavić Orešković

Kokoda Mali kućni vrtić

Education for personal and professional development

Abstract

The author presents the preschool program of the KOKODA LITTLE H0ME KINDERGARDEN daycare facility, living and working in line with the Waldorf education, the philosophy of Martin Buber, and the spirit of forest kindergartens. The program has been composed to educationally build, at this age, a foundation for the development of the full personal and professional potential of the individual. The child is present in crucial activities in the household, the garden, and the nature. It is shown how life and activities are developed so as to nourish creativity, independence, cooperation, efficiency, and responsibility. The author further describes how in this stage of “mini puberty” the imitativeness, the self-confidence and the trust in the world is underpinned, creating the attitude of “the world is good; I will – I am able to”. The text describes how an appreciation for beauty can be cultivated through artistic elements integrated into the space and activities, fostering a belief in „the  world is beautiful“. Furthermore, creativity in all segments of life is fostered, as well as the criteria for future choices and decision-making. The paper explains how the foundation is laid for the intellectual competences and personal culture, by choosing content, account taken of the repercussions to the potentials in adulthood, aiming at the conscientious, responsible, and constructive participation in life and the community. The use of forms, by way of gross and fine physical movements is explained, as well as the selection of the traditional games, crafts and applied arts along the seasons and festivities of the local and global culture. 

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