A case for children: A way to improve upon their lives.

Abstract

A case for children: A way to improve upon their lives is a three year study of the lives of kindergarten children, their teachers and parents. The dissertation begins with a discussion of the plight of children in our time, specifically, the trend in recent years pressing young children to grow up too fast. The problem presents itself in the kindergarten classroom in the form of academic pressure. Parents are anxious for their children to succeed, teachers feel pressure to teach formal academics, and the children develop feelings of anxiety. In an effort to better underst and the problem as parents and children see it, observational and interview data were systematically collected over a period of three years describing the kindergarten program as well as a program for parents which was designed to explain the program. In the dissertation, the child and parent programs are described as well as the reaction of the parents. Results indicate that the kindergarten program, based on sound child development principles, provides a positive experience for the children. Data about the parent program indicates that the parent-teacher project, involving regular communication between parents and teachers, contributes to parent underst and ing and support of the child-centered program. In addition, it contributes to the alleviation of parent, child and teacher anxiety, as well as to the improvement of school life for the children.