Kindergarten 3 - 6 years
In the kindergarten (3-6 years old) a warm, protective environment is created much like that in a loving home. The intellect is not called upon; instead the child's natural ability to imitate and enter the world of fantasy is encouraged with a great emphasis on rhythm and repetition.
Activities such as painting, baking, drawing, polishing, soup making, stories, songs and imaginative play are part of the weekly rhythm. Birthdays as well as seasonal and Christian festivals are prepared with reverence and joy. Seasonal stories, verses and artistic activities accompany the children throughout the year and festivals are celebrated together
We continue the tradition of telling well-loved fairy stories which deal imaginatively with the joys and sufferings of human life. Toys are of natural materials together with objects from nature, for example: fir cones, shells, chestnuts, sheep's wool and pieces of wood.
The emphasis on the Kindergarten as a small community helps to foster social skills and gives each child a sense of belonging. Through play, children develop interactive skills such as co-operation, empathy, intuition and the ability to see things from the perspective of the other. A great sense of confidence and security is built up within the young child, preparing them for the next stage of the development.