Importance of relaxation activities in kindergarten

V vrtcu se vsakodnevno srečujemo z otroki, ki so nemirni, razdražljivi in napeti. Današnji hitri tempo življenja otrokom ne dopušča počitka in sprostitve, ki ga tako nujno potrebujejo za lastni razvoj. V svojem diplomskem delu sem želela raziskati, kako lahko otrokom v vrtcu zagotovimo sprostitev na prijeten način. V teoretičnem delu sem s pomočjo strokovne literature najprej pisala o spanju in počitku, kot je opredeljen v Kurikulumu. Nato sem opisala naslednje sprostitvene tehnike: joga, avtogeni trening, meditacija, masaža in dihalne vaje. Po opisu tehnik sproščanja sem pisala še o dokazanih učinkih omenjenih tehnik in o njihovi uporabi v predšolskem obdobju. V empiričnem delu sem predstavila primer študije neohumanističnega mednarodnega vrtca na Danskem – Sunrise International Preschool. Predstavila sem dva polstrukturirana intervjuja na temo priprave in izvajanja sprostitvenih dejavnosti v vrtcu, ki sem ju opravila z dvema vzgojiteljicama iz tega vrtca. Predstavila sem tudi potek enega tedna v vrtcu in podrobneje opisala izvedbo sprostitvenih dejavnosti v tem časovnem obdobju. Z intervjuji in opazovanjem sem želela izvedeti predvsem, kako pripraviti prostor za sprostitveno dejavnost, kako dejavnosti izvajati z najmlajšimi in kakšne razlike se pojavljajo pri dejavnostih glede na spol in starost otrok. Ugotovila sem, da je za izvajanje sprostitvenih dejavnosti najbolj primeren delno zatemnjen prostor s svežim zrakom in mehko podlago. Sprostitvene dejavnosti z manjšimi prilagoditvami lahko izvajamo že z najmlajšimi otroki. Izvajanje in učinek dejavnosti se po mojih opažanjih v vrtcu ne razlikujeta glede na spol otroka, se pa razlikujeta glede na otrokovo starost.In kindergarten, we see kids who are restless, irritable and tense everyday. Today\u27s fast pace of life does not allow children the rest and relaxation that they so desperately need for their own development. In my diploma thesis, I wanted to explore how we can provide children in kindergarten with relaxation in a pleasant way. In the theoretical part, with the help of professional literature, I first wrote about sleep and rest as defined in the Curriculum. Subsequently, I described the following relaxation techniques: yoga, autogenic training, meditation, massage, and breathing exercises. After describing the relaxation techniques, I also discussed the proven effects of these techniques and their use in the preschool period. In the empirical part, I presented an example of a study of a neohumanist international kindergarten in Denmark – Sunrise International Preschool. I presented two semi-structured interviews I conducted with two educators from this kindergarten about the preparation and implementation of relaxation activities in the mentioned kindergarten. Additionally, I presented the course of weekly activities in the kindergarten and described in more detail the implementation of relaxation activities. By means of interviews and observation, I wanted to find out how to prepare a room for a relaxation activity, how to carry out activities with the youngest, and which differences occur during the activities according to the children\u27s gender and age. I have found that a room with dimmed lighting, fresh air and a soft surface is the most suitable for performing relaxation activities. Relaxation activities can be performed with the youngest children, but with minor adjustments. My observations in kindergarten, show that the implementation and efficiency of the activities do not differ according to the sex of the child, but they do differ according to the age of the child