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At Dibber, children experience the "culture of the heart" and learning through play every day
Care and education go hand in hand at Dibber preschools to provide the best preschool experiences that evolve with the child's development. A well-thought-out plan for each day of the year offers children constant stimulation and inspiration, both in the present and for the rest of their lives.
We create an educational environment that encourages children to acquire knowledge in a positive way. At Dibber preschools, we aim to change the traditional approach where play and learning are seen as opposites. For us, they are two sides of the same coin, both essential for proper development.
Play-based activities encourage children to engage all their senses, interact with peers, develop social skills, experience empathy, and build self-worth. This principle also underlies language learning.
By engaging in the same activities with the support of caregivers who speak different languages, children naturally acquire new knowledge and develop their language skills.
Learning through play provides children with unlimited opportunities to explore the world, learn, create, and use their imagination. It develops their thinking skills and fosters a practical approach to learning.
Discover the Dibber Educational Environment
The world around us is becoming increasingly open, which is why we firmly believe that language proficiency will be very important for children in the future. We employ the method of early language immersion as a proven, simple, and intuitive way of learning languages at such a young age, enabling them to communicate fluently in foreign languages after completing their preschool education. Naturally developed from an early age, multilingualism provides children with many more benefits than exposure to multilingualism only during bilingual primary school education. To achieve such effects, language learning should ideally begin no later than the age of 3. In Dibber preschools, we communicate in two languages, in which dedicated classes are also conducted. Additionally, children have the opportunity to participate in Spanish language classes.
Enhanced Linguistic Development
Studies on the connection between language development, perception, and attention control have shown that multilingual individuals have much higher cognitive abilities compared to monolingual individuals. Research demonstrates the positive impact of multilingualism on intellectual development.
A child's exposure to a second and third language in early childhood enables them to learn and use those languages faster and more easily than if they were to start learning them later. Have you heard the phrase "children are like sponges"? This phrase aptly describes the process by which children learn foreign languages. Infant brains are primed to absorb and learn foreign languages, and fluency comes quickly and effortlessly, usually without acquiring a foreign accent. The easiest time to learn a foreign language is from birth - infants simply learn two languages. Infants have an innate ability to reproduce any sound, and it will never be as easy for them to achieve fluent multilingualism later on. Therefore, it is best for them to be exposed to one or two foreign languages from birth, from different language groups, and be able to imitate what they hear.
Learning a second and third language opens doors that would otherwise remain closed. Bilingual and trilingual individuals have access to knowledge, people, places, and things that are inaccessible to others. Multilingualism sets candidates apart in the job market, deepens understanding of other cultures, and allows for their appreciation. All these factors enrich life and provide new experiences to those who are fluent in a second and third language.
Proficiency in foreign languages enables children to feel comfortable in unfamiliar environments, promotes natural flexibility and easy adaptation to their surroundings, improves self-esteem, and enhances their sense of self-worth.
Better Academic Performance
Multilingualism helps achieve better grades in school. It has been proven that multilingual children have better-developed traits and skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and mental flexibility, which leads to improved academic performance. Students who wish to learn additional languages in the future will find it much easier. Differences in sounds, accents, word order, inflection, intonation, and grammatical structures will be easier for them to grasp. In the case of etymologically similar languages like Spanish and French, the shared vocabulary further facilitates rapid language acquisition. However, as mentioned, all of these benefits are contingent upon early language exposure rather than starting in a bilingual primary school. Of course, certain benefits will still be apparent, but to a significantly lesser extent.
Cognitive Benefits
Research shows that language learning is a cognitive activity rather than purely linguistic. Here are a few cognitive benefits of learning a second and third language:
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Better problem-solving skills
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Improved critical thinking abilities
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Greater creativity
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Increased mental flexibility
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Enhanced memory
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Improved multitasking skills
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Earlier development of the concept of object permanence
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It has been proven that multilingualism helps children better develop reading and writing skills
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Abstract thinking: It has been demonstrated that learning a new language requires utilizing the same brain connections as learning mathematics and music, which contributes to the development of those connections (multilingual students often have ease in learning these two subjects)
Health
Obesity is not just an aesthetic defect but the most prevalent civilization disease worldwide, requiring treatment and capable of causing numerous health complications. Individuals with excess body fat are not only prone to metabolic disorders but also to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, coronary artery disease, cardiac disorders, respiratory problems, and joint degeneration. A report by the World Obesity Federation, issued in March 2021, also indicates a link between obesity and psychological issues, increased risk of cancer, and even COVID-19.
The scale of this phenomenon is continuously increasing, which is particularly concerning when it comes to children and adolescents. According to data from the Institute of Nutrition and Food, Polish children are among the fastest-growing in terms of weight gain in Europe. Based on available research, it can be estimated that in Poland, approximately 10% of young children (ages 1-3), 30% of children in early school age, and nearly 22% of adolescents up to 15 years old are affected by overweight or obesity.
That is why, in Dibber preschools, we have been paying special attention to developing proper nutritional habits from early childhood for the past 20 years. In collaboration with top chefs in Norway, we have developed and continuously improve a dietary program that is best suited to the needs of young children.
Additionally, meals at Dibber preschools are more than just nourishing and healthy food. They are also part of our educational work, during which children are engaged in the preparation of some meals.
Dibber Meal Standards:
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Low-processed whole grain products
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Diverse seasonal products tailored to each season
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Abundance of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and oily plant seeds
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Unsaturated healthy fats from fish and plant sources
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Meals are cooked or baked, avoiding frying of food products• Transport and storage of meals are done in safe containers to ensure freshness and hygiene
"Dibber Heart Culture"
In Dibber preschools, children have contact with warm and nurturing adults who create safe relationships, support the exploration of the world, and encourage positive interactions. Through this, we learn together.
Our goal is the development of a "culture of the heart" where everyone is important. In Dibber, all of us, caregivers and parents, form a team that co-creates an environment in which our children thrive. It is our task to help children nurture a positive self-image. To achieve this, we use play and daily activities to strengthen the sense of community and integration.
