Learning, as an act of acquiring knowledge or skills is a part of our existence.
However, when it is based on individual interests, aspirations self needs, it becomes “FUNtastic”, which is inherent in children of 2-7 years old. Their type of learning is designed in such a way that learning takes place while having fun.
Kindergarten (KG) is pre-primary school educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of transition from home to school. However, the ages of children to attend kindergarten vary from country to country.
The word ‘kindergarten’ comes from the German language. ‘Kinder’ means children and ‘Garten’ means garden and when put together becomes children garden.
The term was made known by the German Friedrich Froebel, whose approach globally influenced early-years education. In his words “ children are like tiny flowers. They are varied and need care, but each is beautiful alone and glorious when seen in the community of peers”.
Today, the term is used in many countries to describe a variety of educational instead or learning spaces for children ranging from 2-6 or 7 years of age, based on variety of teaching methods.
The kindergarten method of teaching is nurturing and supportive rather than competitive. Children learn through fun and engaging activities like arts, music, transforming playtime into opportunities to instill important cognitive skills, motor skills, and social skills. The teachers in nurturing these abilities make use of cooperative learning, hands on approach, conference learning and play method.
According to Friedrich Froebel “play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul”.
Play-way method goes by the principle of all work and learning should be done in the essence of ‘play’, such as playing with toys and puzzles, imitation the animals, sorting different shapes and colours, recognizing different sounds, or playing outdoor games like hide and seek or simply running.
These activities will develop, enhance and improve all aspects of early childhood development, such as physical, language, cognitive, psychological, intellectual, socio-emotional, imagination and creativity. It also helps children connect with their teachers easily and build a strong bond with the peer group, thereby developing their social skills.
“The mind grows by self- revelation. In play the child ascertains what he can do, discovers his possibilities of will and thought by exertion his power spontaneously. In work he follows a task prescribed for him by and, and doesn’t reveal his own proclivities and inclinations; but another’s. In play he reveals his own original power”.
Friedrich Froebel.
Therefore, this method of learning in kindergarten should also be incorporated into primary and post primary educational levels in order to help the individuals develop their creativity, social participation and free self-expression.
REFERENCE
“Learning is fun at kinder school” Preschool and kindergarten. Feb. 7, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
Friedrich Froebel. (n. d.). AZQuotes. Com. Retrieved February 11,2021 from AZQuotes. Com. Website.
www. The classroom. Com > teaching method.