독일의 숲유치원에 관한 연구 = The Forest Kindergarten in Germany

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 독일의 자연 친화적인 숲유치원에 관한 기초 연구이다. 기존의 유치원과는 달리 문과 벽이 없이 자유스러운 하늘 아래서 교육이 펼쳐지는 숲유치원은 인간과 자연과의 조화스런 관계를 유아 시기부터 자연스럽게 알게 하며, 유아의 신체와 정신을 전인적으로 성장 발달시키며, 유아의 개성적인 발달을 돕는데 그 목적이 있다. 유아는 매일의 숲유치원 활동을 통하여 유아 자신도 자연의 일부분으로 자연과 공생하여야 함을 체득 하게 된다. 이렇게 유아기에 형성된 자연관은 유아가 성인이 되었을 때 자연을 보존하려는 마음을 적극적으로 갖게 하고, 자연 친화적인 삶으로 인도해 준다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study describes and explores the ecologically effective forest kindergarten in Germany. Unlike other kindergartens, the forest kindergarten has neither doors nor walls. Instead, it educates children under open skies. Such a green kindergarten allows children to learn from early childhood the harmonious relationship between nature and human beings. The Forest Kindergarten is concerned with assisting personality development through developing and maturing both body and mind. Participating in the daily activities of the green kindergarten, the children grow to understand that they, who are, in fact, a part of nature, must live together in harmony with nature. Acquiring such a view of nature early in childhood assures that, as adults, they will actively maintain responsible attitudes and actions toward the environment, preserving 'a green life' for humanity. Because the children in the forest kindergarten play only with things found in nature, they are not addicted to artificial toys. The forest life itself stimulates their imagination and creativity and fosters a disposition for inquiry and exploration. Since the forest provides the children with the fresh air and the open, quiet space in which they can freely move, the children of the forest kindergarten are physically and mentally healthier than those attending traditional kindergartens. The forest kindergarteners are also emotionally more stable. Children who attend forest kindergarten demonstrate the concentration required for success in the elementary school.