It was the eminent German educator Friedrich Froebel who invented the kindergarten. He believed that "Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in the child's soul." Froebel proposed that play thrives in a culture where imagination and creativity are valued, where there is a shared sense of joy in wondering and discovering, where relationships are warm and responsive and where both adults and children are willing to take some risks and be adventurous. He also believed that nature and outdoor play were fundamental to young children’s learning.
It is also true that an atmosphere of playful nonsense can be an important way of building close relationships; that children make stories everywhere, with natural materials, small worlds, blocks, sand and water, and much more.
Orchidale Nursery values these principles enormously and aims to put them to work to the benefit of all its children.
Take a look at Helen Tovey’s book Bringing the Froebel Approach to your Early Years Practice.
