A criança e o ambiente na infância: um estudo da noção ambiental na escola infantil

Abstract

This research sought to identify, through an interdisciplinary study between psychology and architecture, some key factors influencing pro-environmental behavior of pre-school age children (four to six years old) in the preservation of the environment within the kindergarten. For this reason, we performed a case study on a Municipal Unit of Child Education, municipal public schools of the city of Belo Horizonte, which aimed to examine children's relationships with the school environment, both in the sense of the intervention of child on the environment as qualities of locational/spatial environment and its influence on children's behavior. As research techniques were used semi-structured interviews, behavioral maps and discussion groups. An analysis of documents in the light of the discussion on environmental values applied to children as well as the values expressed in the architectural design of UMEIs represented by dissertation defended by one of the authors of the project. This study reached the conclusion that the kindergartens are not able to present a critical view on the environmental issue, but are able to learn about it and mimic the behavior of adults. We also conclude that a built environment shaped in provocative way can cause the child's curiosity, increasing their interest about environmental issues.