Preschool age is a very important period for a child, which is why parents wish to enroll their child in a kindergarten that, in their opinion, offers the best conditions for development and learning, and where the child will feel safe and comfortable.
In my master’s thesis, I explored parents’ opinions on the quality of work in a Montessori kindergarten: what aspects of this approach they perceive as positive, what they see as negative, and what they might want to change or add. I was interested in the reasons parents chose to enroll their child in a Montessori kindergarten, when and where they first heard about Montessori pedagogy, and how it helps them understand their children. I also examined how satisfied parents are with certain elements of Montessori pedagogy and to what extent they incorporate it at home. Furthermore, I looked into parents’ satisfaction with communication with teachers, as well as their assessment of their child’s satisfaction, motivation, and progress in the kindergarten. I also investigated how important the Christian orientation of the kindergarten is in parents’ decision-making. Additionally, I asked parents about their satisfaction with the (extra) activities offered by the kindergarten and whether they would like to see anything added to the program.
I used both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) methods of data collection. The research group consisted of parents of children attending a Montessori kindergarten who completed a questionnaire (N = 70) and six parents who were interviewed.
The research showed that, on average, parents are satisfied with the Montessori kindergarten and its program. They believe it encourages children's independence and initiative, which they cited as the main reason for choosing this type of kindergarten. Montessori pedagogy helps parents better understand their children, and they are satisfied with how the kindergarten promotes independent work, incorporating these principles at home as well. The study also reflects parents’ opinions on the importance of including foreign languages in the kindergarten. Communication with teachers is important to parents; they are satisfied with it but would like to have more of it. Parents are also pleased with their children’s progress and motivation, as the children show interest and willingness to engage in the same types of activities at home. It is also important to parents that the kindergarten follows Christian teachings. They are satisfied with the additional activities offered and would only add a few more, such as nature school, sports days, or cultural events.
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