Kindergarten Pedagogy

Abstract

During the spring quarter we will take up the adaptation of subject-matter to the children of the two grades found in the kindergarten. This will include a consideration of the corresponding growth in expression seen in the children of three, four, and five years, respectively. The question is frequently asked, When is a child ready to enter the first year of school? or, When has he gained all the kindergarten has to offer? 'These questions are often answered by saying that the kindergarten affords opportunities to learn and to gain power through play. When the children are ready to work, the school is the proper place. This is rather a misleading distinction, for work goes on in the kindergarten, and play in the school, and rightly so. If we analyze the question more closely, we find the children developing new needs and new interests that may be classified as follows: