At Klätterträdet, 6 educators and a cook/cleaner work with about 30 children divided between Midgård and Asgård. We have a large preschool yard with tunnels, swings, hills and a barbecue area.
We have a Bifrost-inspired approach where children’s questions and ideas form the basis for different themes. Children are involved in the process at their own level and learn to make active choices. Their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning is nurtured and stimulated. The theme can be parallel to the school theme with a focus on play and exploration of the environment.
The work on the theme is based on three different approaches: language, investigation and creation. We want to capture the individual’s questions and offer challenges to the children and create environments where the children can develop different forms of expression and use all their senses.
“The activities should be based on the children’s world of experience, interests, motivation and drive to seek knowledge. Children seek and acquire knowledge through play, social interaction, exploration and creation, but also by observing, discussing and reflecting. With a theme-based approach, children’s learning can be diverse and coherent.” (Lpfö 98/10)
We see the theme as a natural way to create cohesion and collaboration between preschool, school and leisure time. Language and learning are linked to identity development. We want to pay special attention to children’s language development, listening, telling and reflecting develops spoken and written language, as well as communication and cooperation.
Children with a native language other than Swedish should, in cooperation with parents, be encouraged and helped to develop their native language. Through a variety of outdoor activities and outdoor life, children in the preschool get a connection to the local area, cultural life and environmental issues. By prioritizing this, we also create the conditions to strengthen the community among children. We connect with the strong cultural traditions of our society in terms of spending time in nature. It helps to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and caring for nature and the environment. Democratic values should be fundamental and permeate the work with children, with adults acting as safe role models.