History
“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.” ”
Gabriele moved to Australia from Germany when she was only 10 months old, being of German background and heritage, Gabriele’s parents established and built their own Kindergarten in 1970, choosing the title “kindergarten” as it drew upon their German culture. Gabriele subsequently grew up and worked alongside her parents in the family business, gaining so much experience, knowledge and a passion for educating young children.
Advocating the childcare industry has been a life long commitment to Gabriele. It is due to her background and experiences that she has chosen to acknowledge the history of the word that is close to her heart, and reminds her of her passion to teach. Hence the name “Carlingford Kindergarten.”
In 1857 Friedrich Froebel from Germany founded the first kindergarten in the world, titling him the “Father of Kindergarten.”
The word kindergarten comes from the German word literally meaning “children’s garden.” Kinder = children, garten = garden.
Froebel developed theories and practices that are still being used today in Kindergartens. His ideas were that children need to have playtime in order to learn and that Kindergarten should be a place for children to grow and learn from their social interaction with other children. Through play, the children are able to learn to discriminate, analyze, share, and solve problems.
Froebel also believed that each child had their own rhythm. They would learn when they were ready to learn. The educator’s role was to provide encouragement and stimulation to help them develop.
Friedrich Froebel envisioned a setting where children could thrive, develop, and be nurtured. Much like an actual garden, Froebel wanted an environment in which children could tend to their natural curiosity about the world and, in turn, be cultivated into playful, social, healthy individuals.
