Iceland review - 2004, Page 69

REYKJAVÍK – PURE ENERGY / 67
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
Reykjavík preschools know that it’s important to start a child’s education off on
the right foot. They know that a child needs to feel secure in its environment,
have confidence in its own abilities and learn and develop through play. The aim
of the preschool is to create a healthy and secure environment for children, that
provides them with the opportunity to develop mentally and physically and to
enjoy their childhoods. Reykjavík pre-schools are for all children, independent of
mental and physical abilities, culture or religion. They provide children aged two
to six with a healthy learning environment and secure play conditions. All
preschools follow specific guidelines based on a child-centered philosophy, with
the child’s maturity and needs at its core. Each preschool can choose its own
approved educational methods, including methods developed by Howard
Gardner, Reggio Emilio, John Dewie and the Waldorf system. Pre-school children
in Iceland are also familiar with computers that have specially selected learning
programmes.
Nature plays a large role in the lives of Icelandic children. At Reykjavík preschools,
children play outside for at least two hours every day, whatever the weather. On
rainy days they’re a cheerful sight decked out in their colourful raingear, and dur-
ing the winter they’re fully equipped in warm downy snowsuits. Children happi-
ly run, climb, slide and swing in the excellent playground facilities stipulated in
all city preschools. And not only do the children play outside, they also learn a lot
about their immediate environment. Many preschools feature environmental
studies and recycling to make small children aware of the fragile nature of our
environment and the importance of living in harmony with it.
www.leikskolar.is
A FUN-FILLED DAY
Every Icelandic kid’s favourite place in Reykjavík is, of course, the Reykjavík Zoo
and Family Park in Laugardalur. Situated next to the city’s botanical gardens, this
area makes for an entire day out for the whole family. At the zoo, the children
can spot seals, Arctic foxes, mink and reindeer, as well as domestic animals such
as sheep, cows and horses. The most famous animal at the zoo is Guttormur the
bull, from pure Icelandic stock and who weighed 942 kilos in his prime! He is also
one of the oldest bulls in Iceland, at the grand old age of eleven. Petting the rab-
bits and watching the animals being fed are firm favourites, as is the pretty
carousel, decorated with Viking-hero motifs complete with beautiful steeds and
carriages. After all these shenanigans, appetites will probably have been worked
up again, so why not cross the bridge over to a playground paradise. The pond
is ideal for a splash and paddle in the summer sun, and the rides and playground
equipment are a hit all year round. The bicycle and mini-car tracks will amaze and
astonish the little nippers, and (as if that were not enough) there are also boats
for hire. All kinds of fun activities and performances are organised throughout
the year, which add to the action-packed adventures of the Family Park. It will be
difficult to tear the tykes away from the castles, swings, sandboxes and rocking
horses scattered around the park, but the age-old method of ice-cream bribery is
always a good bet!
www.mu.is
At 64.08° N, Reykjavík is the most northerly capital in the world.
At 21.55°W it is also the most westerly capital in Europe.
DID
YOU
KNOW?
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