Parents' opinion on the application of Montessori methods in kindergarten

Alternativni predškolski programi sve su zastupljeniji u dječjim vrtićima, kako u Hrvatskoj, tako i u svijetu te pokazuju izuzetne rezultate u radu s djecom. Istraživanja govore kako alternativni predškolski programi pozitivno utječu na razvoj djeteta, no stavovi i zadovoljstvo roditelja te djece rjeđe su ispitivana. U diplomskom radu govori se o primjeni Montessori programa u dječjim vrtićima, njegovu utjecaju na razvoj djece te se ispituje mišljenje roditelja, zadovoljstvo programom i suradnjom s ustanovom ranog i predškolskog odgoja i obrazovanja. Cilj ovog rada bio je prvo predstaviti osnovna načela Montessori pedagogije, a osim toga i utvrditi koliko su roditelji Dječjeg vrtića Cekin upoznati s Montessori programom i metodom rada u predškolskoj ustanovi te koliko su njime zadovoljni. Istraživanje je provedeno pomoću anketnih upitnika za roditelje u Dječjem vrtiću Cekin, a sudionici su 49 roditelja čija djeca polaze Montessori program. Istraživanjem provedenim u ovome radu zaključeno je da su roditelji iznimno zadovoljni radom vrtića, iako ih je otprilike samo trećina upoznata s Montessori pedagogijom kao i Montessori priborom za rad. Najveći interes djeca Dječjeg vrtića Cekin pokazuju za aktivnosti iz praktičnog života, kao i za kreativno izražavanje, bilo to u likovnom, glazbenom ili scenskom obliku, dok je najmanji interes za matematiku, posebice geometriju i konkretne računske operacije, iako su im sami brojevi zanimljivi. Osim toga, roditelji imaju vrlo pozitivna mišljenja o radu odgojitelja u Dječjem vrtiću Cekin te s njima ostvaruju iznimnu suradnju koja pomaže u izgradnji djetetu sigurnog okruženja. Svi rezultati dobiveni istraživanjem u kojem sudjeluju i roditelji vrlo su vrijedni za Dječji vrtić Cekin jer su dokaz suradnje koja je jedna od najvažnijih sastavnica odgojno-obrazovnog rada u predškolskoj ustanovi.Alternative preschool programs are more and more present in kindergartens, in Croatia as well as in the world, showing extraordinary results in work with children. Researches show that alternative preschool programs have positive influence on child's development, but parent's attitude and content are rarely tested. This thesis describes implementation of Montessori program sin kindergartens, it's influence on children's development and questions parent's opinion, their content with the program, as well as their cooperation with the institute of early and preschool care and education. The aim of this thesis was to present elementary principles of Montessori pedagogy and moreover to determine in which amount are the parents of the „Cekin“ kindergarten familiar with the Montessori program and it's methods in the preschool institute, as well as their content. The research was conducted through questionnaires for 49 parents whose children attend the Montessori program in „Cekin“ kindergarten. Conducting the research in this thesis it is concluded that the parents are extremely satisfied with the kindergartens' work, even though only one third of them are familiar with the Montessori pedagogy, as well as it's working equipment. Children of the „Cekin“ kindergarten show the most interest in practical activities from everyday life, as well as in creative expressing, in any of art, music or scenic forms. On the contrary, children show the least interest in Mathematics, especially geometry and calculating operations, even though they find numbers interesting. Additionally, the parents have particularly positive opinions about educators in „Cekin“ kindergarten, with whom they have exceptional cooperation which helps building child-safe environment. All the results, given by the research in which the parents participated, are very valuable for „Cekin“ kindergarten, hence they prove cooperation, which is one of the most important component of care educational work in preschool institution