Role, importance and effienciency of the ceramic education for the preschool children between 3 and 6 years of age

This study was carried out to demonstrate the role, importance andsufficiency of the ceramic training for the 3 to 6 years old preschool children. Theimportance, objectives, principles and prevalence of the preschool education, theteacher-student-family relations, the applicable methods to be used in practice, thechild creativity as well as the kneading materials and art training used for thepreschool education were elaborated. The interviews were made in the institutionsthat handled/did not handle preschool education in Ankara, while practices with 3 to6 years old preschool children took place in the Practice Kindergarten of the GaziFaculty of Education under Gazi University in Ankara. The library resources inAnkara, a number of preschool studies and reports of the Ministry of NationalEducation were examined addition to the literature studies, and the ceramic practicesperformed with the children and their results were documented by photographing.This study was based on the 3 to 6 years old healthy children. Questionnaireswere used in interviews with the staff members of the institutions for the purpose ofdetermining the sufficiency of ceramic training handled by the institutions. It wasunderstood that the ceramic training was not prevalent, nor did it take its meritedplace in the institutions.It was emphasized that the ceramic practices intended for the 3 to 6 years oldchildren should be specifically planned for each age group, and that the clay hassome important superiorities compared to the other kneading materials. Inconsequence, it was observed that the children were satiated with the clay practices,and that they could easily express themselves by means of shaping the clay. As aresult of the practices, it was also observed that the children comprehended theimportance of arts, and that their creativity and aesthetic sensitivity were improved.They could establish the abstract-concrete relations, create 3D objects, knew thecultural values, and took pride in what they created. It was once again demonstratedthat the ceramic training was important and necessary, as it could improve thecognitive, emotional and psychomotor development of the children. The ceramictraining should take place, and be expanded in all the preschool institutions.