OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION, LATVIAN-NORWEGIAN EXPERIENCE (COMPARATIVE ASPECT IN LATVIA AND NORWAY)

Preschool children spend a large part of their day in kindergartens,
therefore, it does matter how useful this time is and how it is used to ensure
comprehensive development of a child. In light of the above, to learn more
about the trends in how the preschools organize their activities, the following
research objective was set: to review and compare the experience of the
organisation of outdoor activities in Latvian and Norwegian preschools. In
order to implement the research objective, the daily activity plans and specific
organisational trends of the private preschools “Ābeļzieds” (Latvia) and
“Blatoppen” (Norway) were researched. Comparative analysis was carried out
in regard to the organization of outdoor activities in extracurricular education
institutions in Latvia and Norway. The research participants were the private
kindergarten “Zeltābele” in Latvia and the private kindergarten “Blatoppen”
(Blåtoppen) in Norway. Both preschools provide their services to children up to
5 years of age. It was found that in the Latvian preschool children spent less
time outdoors compared to the Norwegian preschool and many outdoor
activities which the Norwegian preschool provides are considered dangerous
for children in the Latvian preschool, based on the legislation of the Republic
of Latvia. The biggest difference was that in Norway meals are often served
outdoors, including cooking on open fire. A positive feature observed in the
preschool time management was the fact that both the Latvian and the
Norwegian preschool twice a year organised a trip to a farm so that children
could learn more about farm animals, also walks in the neighbourhood are
being organised. The Latvian preschool organized such walks no more than
once a week, while the Norwegian preschool organized such walks three times
a week.