Desenvolvimento do potencial em crianças em idade pré-escolar em meio urbano/meio rural: Um estudo exploratório nos Concelhos de Évora e Viana do Alentejo

A educação pré-escolar assume um papel fundamental no desenvolvimento das crianças que se quer cada vez mais abrangente e transversal. O nosso estudo tem como objectivo compreender se o desenvolvimento do potencial das crianças em idade pré-escolar está associado à frequência de actividades extracurriculares e ao meio onde residem. Realizou-se com uma amostra de 46 crianças, em dois Jardins de Infância, um de meio urbano e outro rural, nos concelhos de Évora e Viana do Alentejo. Utilizámos os instrumentos de avaliação do Modelo de Spectrum (Krechevsky 2001). A análise de resultados demonstrou que a população urbana apresentou um desenvolvimento do potencial superior à população rural em quase todas as actividades. A concluir destacamos as implicações deste estudo para a educação pré-escolar, nomeadamente no que se refere à sua organização e avaliação. ABSTRACT: The pre-school education plays a key role in the development of children needing to be more comprehensive and cross. Our study aims to understand if the potential development of children in preschool is associated with the frequency of extracurricular activities and the environment in which they reside. Conducted with a sample of 46 children in two kindergartens, one urban and another one rural, in the districts of Évora, Viana do Alentejo. We used the assessment tools of the Spectrum Model (Krechevsky 2001). The analysis results showed that the urban population had a higher potential development of the rural population in almost all activities. Finally, we highlight the implications of this study for pre-school education, particularly as regards their organization and evaluation.

Urban-rural connections and development perspectives in Portugal

Portugal is characterized by a significant asymmetry in the population distribution/density and economic activity as well as in social and cultural dynamics. This means very diverse landscapes, differences in regional development, sustainability and quality of life, mainly between urban and rural areas. A consequence coherent with the contemporary dynamics: urbanization of many rural areas that loose their productive-agricultural identity and, simultaneously, the reintegration in urban areas of spaces and activities with more rural characteristics. In this process of increasing complexity of organization of the landscape is essential to restore the continuum naturale (between urban and rural areas) allowing closer links to both ways of life. A strategy supported in the landscape, which plays important functions for public interest, in the cultural, social, ecological and environmental fields. At the same time, constitutes an important resource for economic activity, as underlined in the European Landscape Convention. Based on this assumption, and using a multi-method approach, the study aims to analyse a) the links between urban and rural areas in Portugal and b) the reasons why these territories are chosen by individuals as places of work and mobility, residence or evasion, culture and leisure, tranquillity or excitement – meaning overall well-being. Primary information was obtained by a questionnaire survey applied to a convenience sample of the Portuguese population. Secondary data and information will be collected on the official Portuguese Statistics (INE and PORDATA). Understanding the urban-rural links is essential to support policy measures, take advantage from the global changes and challenge many of the existing myths.