Science centres as an environments conducive to the development of a child’s leisure culture at the first stage of education. Case study

Abstract

The aim of the article was to determine the role of science centers in the development of the culture of free time of the child at the first stage of education, based on the experience of a boy at the age of 9 and his parents. The research activities were based on a qualitative method of data collection in the form of individual interviews, partly focused on the problem.

            The analysis shows that science centres and the space they have prepared for the exploration of natural, physical and chemical phenomena have become part of the free time of the child and his parents. They also contributed to the boy's cognitive, emotional and social development. They allowed the child to reflect in the organization of free time aimed at experiencing and discovering knowledge through play. They changed his style of using free time from passive rest to active, active pursuit of the perspective of his own development.