Model for Developing Respect for Diversity at Early and Preschool Age / Model razvoja uvažavanja različitosti u ranoj i predškolskoj dobi

Abstract Respect for diversity implies acceptance and respect for living beings and their dignity, and the realisation of justice as a principle of life. This includes a high level of sensitivity of adults for children and the sensitization of children for others: peers, family members, environment, and the overall living environment. It is about shaping the educational approach based on accepting the rights of people to freely express their own identity and understand their own rights, obligations, and responsibilities, as well as the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of others. Upon application of programmes and targeted activities in kindergartens, children learn to include, respect and accept members of various vulnerable groups. This paper presents how the application of the model for development of respect for diversity contributes to the increasing importance of understanding and respect for differences among parents and children of early and preschool age. This is done by evaluating the application of the Respect for Diversity and Peace Building manual on a sample of children and parents from 41 preschools which operate in the following four countries: Serbia (16 preschool institutions, 20 educational groups), Croatia (11 preschool institutions, 14 educational groups), Montenegro (3 preschools, 6 educational groups), and Macedonia (11 preschool institutions, 16 educational groups). The results show that early and preschool-age children are willing to communicate with children of different characteristics and that this choice is not affected by the identity of the children belonging to vulnerable groups (such as Roma children and children with development difficulties). In addition, it was found that parents recognise the importance of early and preschool education, and aim to increase respect for diversity. They also understand the importance of family education in this process. The model that was applied led to statistically significant differences between children and parents towards diversity. Key words: early and preschool education; educational model of respect for diversity; relationships according to attitude towards diversity; parents' convictions  --- Sažetak Uvažavanje razlicitosti podrazumijeva prihvacanje i postovanje živog bica i njegova dostojanstva te ostvarivanje pravednosti kao životnog nacela. Navedeno ukljucuje visoku razinu osjetljivosti odraslih za djecu i razvoj osjetljivosti djece za druge: za vrsnjake, clanove obitelji, okolinu i cjelokupno životno okruženje. Radi se o oblikovanju odgojno-obrazovnog pristupa utemeljenog na prihvacanju prava ljudi da slobodno izraze vlastiti identitet, da razumiju vlastita prava, obveze i odgovornosti te prava, obveze i odgovornosti drugih. Primjenom programa i ciljanih aktivnosti u djecjim vrticima djeca uce ukljucivanje, uvažavanje i prihvacanje pripadnika razlicitih ranjivih drustvenih skupina. U radu je prikazano kako primjena modela razvoja uvažavanja razlicitosti pridonosi povecanju razumijevanja važnosti i uvažavanja razlicitosti od roditelja i djece rane i predskolske dobi, putem evaluacije primjene prirucnika  „Uvažavanje razlicitosti i izgradnja mira“ na uzorku djece i roditelja iz 41 predskolske ustanove koje djeluju u cetiri države. To su Srbija (16 predskolskih ustanova, 20 odgojnih grupa), Hrvatska (11 predskolskih ustanova, 14 odgojnih grupa), Crna Gora (3 predskolske ustanove, 6 odgojnih grupa) i Makedonija (11 predskolskih ustanova, 16 odgojnih grupa). Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da su djeca rane i predskolske dobi spremna na druženje s djecom razlicitih karakteristika, pri cemu na njihove izbore sama pripadnost djeteta nekoj ranjivoj skupini (kao sto su djeca pripadnici romske nacionalne manjine i djeca s teskocama u razvoju) ne utjece presudno. Nadalje, utvrđeno je da roditelji prepoznaju važnost odgoja usmjerenog uvažavanju razlicitosti, razumijevajuci važnost obiteljskog odgoja u tom procesu. Primijenjeni model doveo je do statisticki znacajnih razlika u odnosu djece i roditelja prema razlicitostima. Kljucne rijeci: rani i predskolski odgoj i obrazovanje; model uvažavanja razvoja razlicitosti; odnos prema razlicitostima; uvjerenja roditelja