The contribution of religious education to children's integral development in the early and preschool age

Sa？etak The paper affirms the need for comprehensive education and training in the segment of early and pre-school education in the Republic of Croatia, and particularly points to the need for the contribution of religious education. The possibilities of implementing a religious program are considered, given the legal framework and available quantitative data. In particular, the basic foundations of the Catholic Church's educational activity and the religious-pedagogical concept on which the educational curricula of religious education are based, whose contribution is not justified solely by legal bases, but also by scientific circles. For the sake of the better contribution, they stand out at the end the three challenges. They relate to the formation of educators in the faith, public awareness and the strengthening of educational cooperation between all relevant factors