CITY OF ZRENJANIN – “WITH A SMILE IN KINDERGARTEN” – SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTIVITY

The city of Zrenjanin and its partners in the yard of “Petar Petrovic Njegos” elementary school realized a promotional activity called “Big and small – we will be friends”, where parents were informed about the project “Inclusive preschool education and care – With a smile in the kindergarten” and it was promoted the importance of early development, children’s learning and inclusion in the preschool education system. Kindergarten children aged three to six and a half, as well as children who were not enrolled in kindergarten, as well as a few parents, educators, and professional associates participated in the promotional activity. Children who are already in kindergarten told and showed other children what they do in kindergarten with their friends and teachers and why it is important for them to enroll in kindergarten as early as possible.

Red Cross volunteers demonstrated first aid for injuries, and medical staff from the “Dr. Bosko Vrebalov” Health Center gave children and their parent’s advice and educational material on the topic of healthy eating.

During the duration of the Project, the preschool institution has developed different programs in its offer, which differ in form, duration, and program orientation. The short program “Breathe Deeply” was realized in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the City of Zrenjanin, the City Museum, and “Luca Atelier”. The goal of the short program was for children to get to know their emotions, to learn to channel them through creative workshops, and to play roles. The short program contributed to the greater availability of preschool services and provided support to families to improve parental competence, with a special emphasis on the participation of both parents. The workshops “A little bit, I a little bit, you, and we will win” in the kindergarten “Bambi” and “Autumn is another spring, where every leaf is actually a flower” in the yard of the kindergarten “Bambi” were also realized. The workshops were carried out by educators and an expert associate pedagogue for art education from a preschool institution. The goal of the workshop “A little bit of me, a little bit of you, and we will win” was harmonizing one’s desires and needs with the desires and needs of others, willingness to receive and give, as well as creating compromises and encouraging collaborative relationships among children, and the goal of the workshop “Autumn is another spring, where every leaf is actually a flower” was to encourage children to research using natural materials as a means of artistic expression. Children were active at the workshops, had the opportunity to participate in activities together with their parents, researched, learned through research in a new environment, and learned through play. The workshops were also attended by children who had not been included in any of the programs offered by the preschool.

Through talking with parents, we came to the conclusion that the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care – With a Smile in Kindergarten” provides the opportunity for parents to learn and develop their competencies, as well as that they are satisfied with the new way of working in terms of offering different programs, increasing the coverage of children, by promoting an inclusive policy as well as cooperation with the local community.

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