The aim of this approach was to point out how preschool children from different countries could express their own thoughts about their Rights in a kindergarten classroom. It was a creative approach, which was developed through an artistic point of view and had been part of a Project about the Rights of the Child (The Children all over the World, The Children in our Classroom), according to the UNICEF Declaration and Convention (www.unicef.org/crc).
The project was conducted in a public kindergarten in Athens during the school year 2014-2015 with 24 children from Albania, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, Poland and Russia. The children were divided into six, mixed groups of four. There were three steps: At first we focused on the ideas of preschool children about the world through discussion with them in the classroom about the Universal Children’s Day (20 November) (brainstorming). So they created a multicolored world and the children living in it. During the second step three major aspects were analyzed: Peace, Protection and Love-Affection and were represented in a Dove, a Home/School and a Big Heart respectively. Finally, the artwork produced was photographed in order to create a poster embracing all children.
Through this creative approach we tried to encourage collaboration and friendship. Good friendship, as the studies has shown, has an effect on children’s socialization and encourages them to respect others even though they don’t speak the same language, in order to understand that all kinds of people are human beings with the same hopes and dreams.
In conclusion it depends on us, teachers, to promote diversity in a kindergarten classroom, thus leading to a better and peaceful world for all children and guide them into a promising and sustainable future in which they will live as active citizens.
Keywords: Rights, Preschool Children, Creativity, Friendship, Diversity
