The Environmental Education of Preschool Children in Kindergarten

U ovom diplomskom radu je dat kratak prikaz ekološkog odgoja i obrazovanja djece predškolske dobi u dječjem vrtiću. Posebna se pozornost posvetila ulozi odgojitelja, njihovom obrazovanju i potrebnim kompetencijama. Upravo zato provedeno je istraživanje u kojem je sudjelovalo 125 odgojiteljica iz Zadra, Šibenika i Knina (uzorkovanje je bilo u skladu s brojem stanovnika gradova). Istraživanjem su se propitali ekološki stavovi i navike odgojitelja, povezanost ili određene razlike u odnosu na mjesto stanovanja, dob ispitanika, stupanj izobrazbe, godine radnog iskustva u struci, osnivača predškolske ustanove te ekološke aktivnosti koje odgojitelji najčešće nude djeci u vrtićkoj odgojnoj skupini. Istraživanje je pokazalo kako se značajan postotak odgojiteljica smatra ekološki osviještenim i kompetentnim za provođenje ekološkog odgoja i obrazovanja djece, no isto tako se pokazalo da se sustavno ne provode ekološke edukacije odgojitelja (samo 28%) nakon njihove izobrazbe, što je vrlo indikativan podatak. Nadalje, ekološke igre su simbolično prisutne u radu s djecom, a one su vrlo važne za stjecanje ekoloških navika kod djece. One bi primarno trebale biti zastupljene u radu s djecom jer su najefikasniji način usvajanja ekološki prihvatljivih navika od najranije dobi. Rezultati istraživanja idu u prilog tvrdnji da su ekološki stavovi i navike odgojiteljica usko povezani, pri čemu je uočena razlika u stupnju izobrazbe, dok značajne razlike u odnosu na mjesto stanovanja, dob i godine radnog staža u struci nisu zapažene. Rezultati istraživanja nameću imperativ veće uključenosti ekoloških sadržaja kroz različite kolegije u studijskim programima, kao i permanentnu edukaciju u godišnjim ciklusima.This master's thesis deals with environmental education of preschool children. Special attention is given to the role of preschool educators, their education and required competences. A research study has been conducted involving 125 educators from Zadar, Šibenik and Knin (sample was taken regarding the population of the towns). The aim of the research was to estimate environmentally friendly beliefs and habits of preschool educators and to establish if there is any connection or difference in residence, age, education, working experience, the founder of the preschool facility and ecological activities which are offered to preschool children by their educators. It has shown that the great percentage of preschool educators consider themselves environmentally concious and well qualified to teach environmental education even though ecological education isn't implemented enough into training courses of preschool educators. Furthermore, ecological games are slightly incorporated in teaching process even though they are significantly important and necessary for adopting environmentally friendly habits. Ecological games strongly affect the children's adoption of environmentally friendly habits in the most effective way and therefore they should be primarily used while working with them. The results of the research have confirmed the theory that environmentally friendly beliefs and habits of educators are in close connection whereas huge differences regarding the residence, age and working experience haven't been noticed. The results of the research impose the wider prominent involvement of ecological contents throughout diverse university courses as well as the permanent education in annual cycles