Fun Learning (A Guide For Creche Teachers)

This manual was devised to assist teachers working in creches with children of pre-school age. It suggests activities and provides information on creche work, designed to be useful in supporting and supplementing teachers' own ideas. The material is the result of several years combined research based on experiences in a Tibetan creche in Dharamsala. Each activity has been tried out to ensure that it functions practically, has a valid educational purpose and that the children enjoy it.

The manual is divided into three main parts:- Part 1 focuses on seven basic areas of learning. The introduction to each chapter explains the educational aim in each area and is followed by example activities used to develop those aims. Part 2 contains general information about child welfare and a health and hygiene section compiled with the advice of health professionals. It also features notes on coping with difficult behavioral problems. Part 3 consists of songs and rhymes for classroom use.

All children learn through experiences. It is therefore essential to provide children with experiences through activities which stimulate and develop learning. It is normal for children to achieve most of their learning experiences through play. The best use of the creche is, therefore, to provide both free and guided play opportunities through which children find out about themselves, their social and physical environment and their abilities. Until children have reached the age of four or five years, formal classroom learning is inappropriate because, although they can learn by rote, they do not understand the meaning of what they are reciting. Such situations are frustrating for both teacher and children because little progress can be achieved and most of the teachers' time is spent orqopisinq the children to remain seated.

The following chapters attempt to explain what constructive play is and how to organise a creche class. They offer a sample of suitable activities designed to strengthen, solidify and reinforce skills as they naturally develop so that our children are well equipped to learn when they reach school age.