Some animals, such as snakes, cockroaches, rats, etc. can often cause unease and fear in humans. This kind of reaction can originate from negative experience with these animals and is often groundless, because it is not based on actual experience but originates from the lack of knowledge and understanding of these animals.
Due to such bias in this bachelor thesis I therefore tested the method of getting children closer to these animals by gradually introducing them – in a multisensory manner and with research – through activities in the kindergarten. Based on it, I was discovering whether this method can limit or even eliminate the fear of these animals. With the help of specialised literature, I introduced the fear of animals, experiential learning, the influence of the kindergarten staff on a child when learning about animals, and the results of already existing research in the field of getting children, as well as adults, closer to animals towards which we are often biased. I examined how the Kurikulum za vrtce defines natural sciences and animals in a kindergarten and what the existing researches show about kindergarten staff, and their view on animals.
I executed the empirical part of the thesis using a special 3-step method: multisensory visual and tactical, and research. I included 6 groups of children aged 3-4 years and 3 groups of children aged 4-5 year into the research. Altogether there were 164 children and the staff, working with the groups. I was trying to discover whether children overcame their fear of animals with the help of gradual introduction. I measured the level of negative feelings with a grading scale and presented the results with a table; I used video recordings of the children's reactions as a helping tool. After the activities, I carried out short interviews with the staff and we watched and analysed the children's reactions together.
With this thesis, I would like to show how to introduce kindergartens with a method of gradually introducing animals, especially those, which often cause fear and unease in children and adults, and to show a model which can be used to reduce that kind of fear and unease or even completely eliminate it.
|