In this master's thesis, we linked pedagogical and clinical practice. We researched how parents describe the manifestation of their child's stay in the nursery while being at home, particularly in the area of their independence.
In the theoretical part, we first covered the topic of parenting, with an emphasis on the concept of raising into independence. We also mentioned the explanation of the parent-child relationship, and tried to establish which aspects of the relationship are important for the child to act as independently as possible. We described the development of the child's independence from the perspective of Montessori pedagogy and the background of the pedagogy itself.
The results of the study were obtained through semi-structured interviews involving 8 parents, specifically mothers of children attending Nazaret nursery, which is a nursery with the Montessori program. Phenomenological analysis has given us insights into the experiences of parents who encourage their child to become independent. The independence of the child is of great importance for them.
They perceive an independent individual as a person who has their own opinions and views, is active and independent of others. The view of an independent individual can be equaled to the view of raising a child in an independent individual. The parents allow the child to take self-initiative, to follow their interests, and to interact without difficulties; they help them build confidence and conditions that enable decision-making. They are greatly encouraged by their nursery with the Montessori program which provides them with many models of behavior, especially in the area of developing independence. Everyday activities and taking care of oneself are those activities in which the child most often participates at home, tries to do them with great motivation and are brought from nursery. Therefore, good and coordinated cooperation with the nursery is of utmost importance. A particular challenge for parents in promoting independence at home is organization and order. When a child is acting independently, the parents perceive them as satisfied and proud to see that they can do many things. They note that this also builds their self-esteem which can suggest that an independent childhood is associated with greater independence in adulthood.
Our work is trying to perpetuate a deeper reflection for parents and all adults who want to listen to the needs of the child and their development. We believe that if in early childhood a child is enabled by an adult to gain experience on their own, this will have a beneficial effect on their development and later functioning.
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