Can you image a preschool for 1 to 6 year old children where there is no formal learning and by age 5 or 6 the children leave unable to read or write. Yes there is and these preschools are in the country of Sweden. There is no formal curriculum, no testing, or paperwork. The children are with the same group of children from the ages from 1 to 6 years old. The preschool settings are more homelike. The children are taught core values, challenges, discovery, and adventure. Children are taught to participate by telling what they want to do which makes learning more fun for them.
Parents say books in school are not important but learning social skills are more important. The children have no learning goals. Everyday the children spends four hours outside even in the harsh winter months because it builds cooperation, physical skills, confidence, and self esteem. Even the children sleep outside from a half a hour to one hour. If it is -7 or -10 degrees the children then sleep inside. Literacy and reading are of no concern. One female student in formal school stated that three year old children must have a chance to be a baby. A teacher stated that preschool should be a place of fun where the children are safe, secure, and learn through play.
When outside the children learn using their senses when climbing trees, running, jumping, seeing, and feeling. In the gym the teachers and the children bond which increase risk taking and beliefs in the children. Reading and writing are not important to them. The parents read at home to their children. The teachers believes in the children playing more which increases communication. There are no targets for the children to meet and there is no testing.
This preschool program is well funded by the Sweden government with both faith in the children and teachers. The children are eager to learn when they enter formal school. And by the age of seven these children lead the literacy table in Europe. These children excel in Europe by the age of 10.
Reference:
Early years education: Sweden verses the UK. 2008 Part 1, 2 and 3. The Reliquary
Hi Larry
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post, I have been hearing a lot about Swedish Education, so much so that I want to go teach there myself (which I just may). It really concerns me how much children are being pushed to meet academic standards in the early years phase and this week especially I have been thinking about this and comparing what my school is doing to what should be done in the early years phase. Children need to be children. I was allowed to be a child in preschool with no push to achieve but rather to play and I certainly turned out well!
Great post, thank you!
Justine