The Game and the Tree: Kinetic Treatment and Environmentally Conscious

The purpose of this study was to promote environmental consciousness and motor development of children aged 4-6 years through a program that laid emphasis on kinetic learning and physical activities. Specifically, the group... [ view full abstract ]

The purpose of this study was to promote environmental consciousness and motor development of children aged 4-6 years through a program that laid emphasis on kinetic learning and physical activities. Specifically, the group sensor motor games of the program took place   both in the rooms of the kindergarten and a playground in a wooded area near the kindergarten. The physical activity program included hoeing, planting of seasonal flowers and seedlings, watering, pruning and general care of these, trips and game (climbing tree trunks, hide and seek, chase, etc.), in the woods.  The program was held in the school year of 2015 - 2016 with a frequency of twice a week from 20-30 minutes. Before implementing the program parents and the authorities of the primary education were informed and they had given their consent. This program consisted of 32 infants (19 boys, 13 girls) in Ioannina of a private kindergarten. To estimate the kinetic development they were applied the "MOT tests - test, 4 - 6» of (Zimmer & Volkamer, 1987).  The initial and final measurements showed that children improved their motor development. The estimation for the development of environmental awareness was made by the method of Bloom’s cognitive taxonomy. With the method of semi-structured interview and showing the children some pictures with plants, animals and various human interaction effects with them, then they requested the children to describe these actions, and to determine whether these actions were acceptable or not for the environment and society. The evaluation of the program showed that children initially knew a few things, but then they got to know even more things about environmental concepts, such as how to plant small trees and flowers, how to treat  them by watering and watching the weather, the value of these actions for society etc.