Saulės gojus is seeking to provide children with a comprehensive education in which the developing of senses and capacities and bringing the body (senses) and mind (intelligences) into harmony with each other is of the greatest importance. Comprehensive education means that we perceive ourselves and children as an integral part of the world we have to feel with all our senses and judge with a sound mind in order to take on responsibility for events and our own actions out there. We consider the kindergarten to be a place where learning takes place in the continuous interaction of “a head, a heart and a hand” (Pestalozzi).
We use the theory of multiple intelligences proposed by Howard Gardner and believe that educational institutions should focus not only on the development of what modern society considers to be the most important intelligences (linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences) while leaving other intelligences outside their scope for other institutions or families to deal with. Therefore the basic principle we adhere to is to provide the most favourable environment for fostering and developing all the intelligences while the child is of preschool age.
Many things which children acquire at the kindergarten cannot be physically taken home. Nevertheless, they get to know and learn many things. In addition, the capacities developed and experience gained there will help them in the future.
We will provide you with 12 examples of successful education used at our kindergarten. They might be not so striking but they are very effective in enhancing the development of a child. These telling examples are of great importance to us who work with children.
We contribute to the growth of one another
A mixed age group of children resembles a big family where older children learn to foster and help younger children while younger ones learn to understand the world by imitating and mimicking the older ones and looking up to them. Almost all the parents who bring up number of children have observed that younger children develop faster than their firstborns while older ones become more independent, more careful and more thoughtful after a sister or a brother was born. In a mixed age group, a child has different feelings: sometimes he/she is feels old, sometimes young, sometimes strong and sometimes weak; sometimes they help others while other times they seek for help. Such individual experiences create a basis for mutual understanding and responsible behaviour.
I appreciate your support
You should respond to a child’s questions and help him/her come up with the answers. When adults are involved in a child’s life, he or she explores the world and seeks for new experiences with great enthusiasm. The best way to inspire a child to learn is through support and encouragement of adults.
I do try to understand
A child wants not only to look at things and only speak about them, but is keen on touching, tasting and experimenting with them. Our kindergarten encourages these activities rather than forbidding them. Developed senses are the basis for unconventional reasoning capacities and enhanced creativity and a vivid imagination. Even though a child often gets his clothes dirty or walks around with sticky hands, this is the only way for him/her to accumulate experience which will help him/her identify logical links and reasons.
I can do that by myself
A child learns to do a multitude of small but very important things such as to dress and undress themselves, tie their own shoes, find a mislaid slipper or mop up if they have spilled something. These are all little steps towards his/her independence.
I am curious
Children are very curious, and curiosity encourages learning. They ask many questions and search for the answers. They explore the world that is around them and are keen to embark on new experiences. Every child demonstrates an amazing characteristic, curiosity, to which our kindergarten attaches great significance, and also encourages it.
I can do many things
A child wants not only to play but do “real work”, such as cut with a knife or a saw, hammer, sew with a needle, and climb trees. Our kindergarten opens up a great number of possibilities for children for cooking, baking, practising crafts, planting and taking care of plants, gardening and implementing his/her own ideas. Confidence in the capabilities of a child gives him/her support and encouragement.
I am full of ideas
Drawing, practising crafts, playing a musical instrument and singing, constructing castles with building blocks or sand, making up stories and performing them serve as instruments for a child’s self-expression. Our kindergarten provides a child with plenty of room for self-expression by helping to develop a proactive attitude and the imagination of a child, teach him to implement his ideas, seek individual solutions and thus become inventive and creative.
I love playing
A child acquires a knowledge of the world through imitating and playing. Playing is the most perfect form of cognition, therefore the kindergarten pays a great deal of attention to it. Playing is fun and children devote themselves entirely to the activity, which brings them excitement. While playing, a child concentrates intently on the activity he/she is involved in and thus develops accuracy, patience and endurance.
I am learning to cooperate
Spending time with other children, first of all, means playing with them. The desire to play unites children as they work out plans, discuss and argue, learn to express their wills and arrive at a compromise, make up rules and make friends, etc. In other words, they learn to socialize and cooperate.
I have something important to say
Resolving disagreement together, relating an experience, planning picnics, standing for beliefs, and expressing likes and dislikes make children stronger and bolder. Those who know how to express themselves in appropriate words will always be heard and come to an understanding with others.
I am responsible
At our kindergarten, children undertake collective tasks such as laying the table, collecting toys together after playing, helping others to dress, planting vegetables and looking after vegetable beds together, or taking care of a newcomer. These small chores help them assume responsibility for each other and stand for a common cause.
I want to understand others
This kindergarten serves as a meeting place for children from different families with different cultural and national backgrounds. Therefore the things which may pose difficulties for adults are perceived as a matter of course by the children of our kindergarten.