When planning educational activities for the kindergarten, we always take into account the fact that children, especially in early childhood, learn best using their senses, their emotions and lastly, their cognitive ability. We favour a holistic approach aimed at stimulating the whole child.
We also use a cross curricular approach provided by the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), which centres around a topic (or research unit) with learning paths that cross different subject areas and are structured to support understanding, reflection and awareness.
The kindergarten is a protective environment that welcomes and values each child's differences and potential. With continuous training we stimulate our teachers so they share the following principles in the way they think and act as educators:
- planning gradual supported activities that give children the opportunity to experience small everyday challenges without feeling out of their depth
- initiating strategies for growth by challenging their own abilities to influence and ask questions, rather than the child's ability to reply
- supporting the children in their abilities and where possible reserving judgement and accepting any meaningful sketch without feeling the need to correct or replace
- encouraging responsibility in following the rules with total freedom and equal limits for everyone, demonstrating practical, positive behaviour models that can be copied.