Kindergarten

Kindergarten is a special way of learning for very young children, usually between the ages of two and six. It helps kids get ready to go to school by doing fun things like playing, singing, drawing, and working together with others. This makes it easier and more fun for kids to move from being at home to being in a school.

The idea of kindergarten started a long time ago, in the late 1700s, in places like Germany and Alsace. It was created for children whose parents needed to work and couldn’t stay home with them. A man named Friedrich Fröbel, a teacher from Germany, came up with the term “kindergarten.” His ideas have helped shape how we teach young children all around the world.

Today, many countries use the word kindergarten to talk about different schools and learning places for young children. These places use many different teaching methods to help kids learn and grow in a happy, supportive environment.

History

Background

In 1779, Johann Friedrich Oberlin and Louise Scheppler started a place in Strasbourg to care for and teach young children whose parents were working. Around the same time, in 1780, similar places were started in Bavaria. In 1802, Princess Pauline zur Lippe opened a preschool in Detmold, the capital of the principality of Lippe, in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia.

In 1816, Robert Owen, a philosopher, opened the first infants school in New Lanark, Scotland. He wanted children to learn good morals and basic reading and numbers.

Creation of the kindergarten

Friedrich Fröbel opened a place for children in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg, where they could play and learn through activities. He called it Kindergarten, meaning "garden of children", because he believed children should grow like plants in a garden. Fröbel let children learn through play, songs, and stories.

Soon after, kindergartens began appearing in many countries. The first kindergarten in the US was started in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1856. The first English-language kindergarten in the US was founded in 1860 by Elizabeth Peabody.

By country

See also: Category:Education by country

Afghanistan

See also: Education in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, children between the ages of three and six go to kindergartens. These kindergartens are often run by the government but are not part of the school system.

Australia

See also: Education in Australia

In Australia, kindergarten means different things in different states. In some places, it is the first year of primary school. In others, it is a form of preschool for children around four years old.

Bangladesh

See also: Education in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, kindergarten is for children from three to six years old. It is very common in both town and country areas.

Brazil

See also: Education in Brazil

In Brazil, kindergarten is for children up to four years old. From four to six years old, children go to preschool before starting primary school.

Bulgaria

See also: Education in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, children go to kindergarten from three to seven years old. Most kindergartens are public and two years of preschool education are required.

Canada

See also: Education in Canada

In Canada, most schools have one year of kindergarten for five-year-olds. In some places, there are two years of kindergarten for four- and five-year-olds.

Chile

See also: Education in Chile

In Chile, kindergarten is called educación parvularia. It is for children from birth up to six years old and is not required by law.

China

See also: Education in China

In China, children go to nursery or preschool before kindergarten. Kindergarten is for children aged four to six, getting them ready for primary school.

Denmark

Main article: Danish pre-school education

In Denmark, kindergarten is for children from three years old until they start school. It became required in 2009.

Egypt

See also: Education in Egypt

In Egypt, children can go to kindergarten for two years when they are four to six years old.

Finland

See also: Education in Finland

In Finland, kindergartens help prepare children for school. They focus on play, learning, and family discussions.

France

See also: Education in France

See also: Pauline Kergomard

In France, preschool is called école maternelle for children aged three to five. It became required for three-year-olds in 2018.

Germany

See also: Education in Germany

In Germany, kindergarten is for children aged three and up. It is not required, but many children go. There are many different kinds of kindergartens.

Greece

See also: Education in Greece

In Greece, kindergarten is called nipiagogio and is a form of preschool.

Hong Kong

See also: Education in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, kindergartens take care of children from three to six years old. They offer half-day or full-day programs.

Hungary

See also: Education in Hungary

In Hungary, children go to kindergarten from three to six years old. It is required from age three.

India

See also: Education in India

In India, children can go to pre-primary school from three years old. It is not required but many families choose it.

Italy

See also: Education in Italy

In Italy, there are nursery schools for children three to thirty-six months old and maternal schools for children three to five years old.

Japan

See also: Education in Japan

In Japan, parents often send their children to preschools or kindergartens. These places help children learn manners and social skills.

North Korea

See also: Education in North Korea

In North Korea, children go to kindergarten from four to six years old.

South Korea

See also: Education in South Korea

In South Korea, children go to kindergarten from three or four to six or seven years old. It helps them get ready for primary school.

Kuwait

See also: Education in Kuwait

In Kuwait, children can go to free government kindergartens for two years when they are four or five.

Luxembourg

See also: Education in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, kindergarten is called Spillschoul and is for children from four or five to six years old.

Malaysia

See also: Education in Malaysia

In Malaysia, kindergarten is for children five and six years old. Some kindergartens take children as young as four.

Mexico

See also: Education in Mexico

In Mexico, kindergarten is called kínder and is for children three to six years old. It is required before primary school.

Mongolia

See also: Education in Mongolia

In Mongolia, kindergarten is for children from two to five years old.

Morocco

See also: Education in Morocco

In Morocco, children can go to preschool from two to five years old. It is not required but many children attend.

Nepal

See also: Education in Nepal

In Nepal, kindergarten is run by private schools and is for children from two to five years old.

Netherlands

See also: Education in Netherlands

In the Netherlands, children used to go to kleuterschool from four to six years old. Now, it is part of primary education.

New Zealand

See also: Education in New Zealand

In New Zealand, kindergarten is for children from two to five years old. They can go for morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions.

North Macedonia

See also: Education in North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, kindergarten is called detska gradinka and is for children under four. It is not required.

Norway

See also: Education in Norway

In Norway, barnehage is for children from ten months to six years old. It is not part of the school system.

Peru

See also: Education in Peru

In Peru, nido is for children from three to six years old, getting them ready for primary school.

Philippines

See also: Education in the Philippines

In the Philippines, early childhood education is required for children under five. They can go to preschools, kindergartens, or other programs.

Poland

See also: Education in Poland

In Poland, przedszkole is for children from three to six years old. It is required for six-year-olds.

Romania

See also: Education in Romania

In Romania, grădiniță is for children from three to six years old. The last year is required since 2020.

Russia

See also: Education in Russia

In Russia, детский сад (dyetskiy sad) is a preschool for children three to six years old.

Singapore

See also: Education in Singapore

In Singapore, kindergartens provide preschool for children three to six years old. There are both government and private kindergartens.

South Africa

See also: Education in South Africa

In South Africa, kindergartens provide preschool for children up to six years old.

Spain

See also: Education in Spain

In Spain, kindergarten is called Infantil and is for children three to six years old. It is not required but many children attend.

Sudan

See also: Education in Sudan

In Sudan, kindergarten is for children three to six years old. It is compulsory.

Sweden

See also: Education in Sweden

In Sweden, kindergarten activities have been around since the 19th century and have grown a lot since the 1970s.

Taiwan

See also: Education in Taiwan

In Taiwan, there are both public and private kindergartens and preschools. Some private ones offer extra subjects like science and mathematics.

Uganda

See also: Education in Uganda

In Uganda, kindergarten is for children three to five years old. It is not required but most children go.

Ukraine

See also: Education in Ukraine

In Ukraine, many children aged one to six can go to preschool, though many were closed due to economic reasons.

United Kingdom

See also: Education in the United Kingdom

In the UK, preschool is usually called nursery school. Children can start at three or four years old before they begin compulsory school.

United States

See also: Education in the United States and National Kindergarten Association

In the United States, kindergarten is part of school for five-year-olds, though not all states require it. It helps children learn basic skills and about the world.