In master’s thesis, I researched the educational activities of preschool institution. I defined the educational concept and its elements, described the education and educational activities in preschool institutions while relying on the hidden curriculum, rules, discipline and the culture of preschool institution. I paid special attention to various factors that affect and form education in preschool institutions and also unconsciously maintain and internalize existing patterns of education, behaviour and activity. I emphasized the role of preschool teachers, which is the basis of successful educational activities, and the role of children, who, with active participation, not only accept the rules and the values but also co-create and internalize them.
The empirical part contains quantitative research, which is used to find out how preschool teachers and preschool teacher assistants understand the education and educational activities in preschool institutions and what influences them, which problems they encounter in educational activities, whether there are gender differences in disciplining and how much are children involved in educational activities. With a survey questionnaire I obtained answers to the research questions and analysed them with statistical programs. I found out that there are no big differences in the understanding of educational activities between preschool teachers and preschool teacher assistants, but there are differences in the understanding of education in preschool institutions. The results showed that the most enforced rules there are related to politeness and kindness and that in most preschool institutions children can participate in their formulation. In educational activities preschool teachers and preschool teacher assistants face problems because educational activities are not unified and agreed at the institutional level. Because of parental pressure and legislation they cannot be independent and autonomous at their workplace. At the same time they have problems with education because more and more spoiled children are involved in preschool institutions. According to preschool teachers and preschool teacher assistants discipline is set by setting limits, with good interpersonal relationships and active involvement of children being in the foreground. Regarding the differences in disciplining boys and girls the research results showed that discipline in preschool institutions does not depend on gender and that preschool teachers and preschool teacher assistants mostly avoid making gender-related differences between children.
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