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{{about|preschool educational approach|early years education|Preschool education|other|Kindergarten (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2011}}
[[File:Parent's day at Eirfan's Kindergarten.jpg|thumb|250px|A Kindergarten in Japan, On Japanese Parent's day, October 2009]]
[[File:Sama Kindergarten and Elementary School - First day of Iranian new education year - for Kindergarten students and elementary school newcomers - Qods zone(town) - city of Nishapur 106.JPG|250px|thumbnail|right|First day of Iranian new education year, for Kindergarten students and elementary school newcomers, in [[Nishapur]]]]
{{*****care}}
A '''kindergarten''' ([[German language|German]] ({{IPA-de|ˈkɪndɐˌgaːtn|-|Kindergarten.ogg}}), literally '''*****ren's garden''') is a [[Preschool|preschool education]]al approach traditionally based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from [[home]] to [[school]]. The first such institutions were created in the late eigh*****th century in [[Bavaria]] and [[Strasbourg]] to serve *****ren both of whose parents worked out of the home.

The term ''kindergarten'' was coined by [[Friedrich Fröbel]], whose approach greatly influenced early-years education around the world. The term is used in many countries to describe a variety of educational institutions for *****ren ranging from two to seven years of age, based on a variety of teaching methods.

==History==

In 1779, [[Johann Friedrich Oberlin]] and Louise Scheppler founded in [[Strasbourg]] an early establishment for caring for and educating pre-school *****ren whose parents were absent during the day.<ref>Samuel Lorenzo Knapp (1846), ‘’Female biography: containing notices of distinguished women’’ Philadelphia: Thomas Wardle. p. 230</ref> At about the same time, in 1780, similar infant establishments were established in [[Bayern]]<ref>Manfred Berger, [https://www.kindergartenpaedagogik.de/414.html "Kurze Chronik der ehemaligen und gegenwärtigen Ausbildungsstätten für Kleinkindlehrerinnen, Kindergärtnerinnen, Hortnerinnen ... und ErzieherInnen in Bayern“] in '‘Kindergartenpädagogik - Online-Handbuch‘‘, ed. Martin R. Textor</ref> In 1802, Pauline zur Lippe established a preschool center in [[Detmold]].

In 1816, [[Robert Owen]], a philosopher and [[pedagogue]], opened the first British and probably globally the first infant school in [[New Lanark]], Scotland.<ref name="vag75">{{cite journal |url=https://www.springerlink.com/content/9248527032015273/ |title=The Influence of the English Infant School in Hungary |first=Otto |last=Vag |journal=International Journal of Early *****hood |publisher=Springer |volume=7|issue=1 |date=March 1975|pages=132–136 |doi=10.1007/bf03175934}}</ref><ref>[https://www.newlanark.org/*****/index2.html New Lanark *****: Robert Owen]</ref><ref name="infed">[https://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-owen.htm Education in Robert Owen's New Society: the New Lanark Institute and schools]</ref> In conjunction with his venture for [[cooperative]] mills Owen wanted the *****ren to be given a good moral education so that they would be fit for work. His system was successful in producing obedient *****ren with basic literacy and numeracy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://socialist-courier.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/robert-owen-and-new-lanark.html |title=Socialist - Courier: Robert Owen and New Lanark |publisher=Socialist-courier.blogspot.co.uk |accessdate=2013-11-27}}</ref>

[[Samuel Wilderspin]] opened his first infant school in London in 1819,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nGYWAAAAIAAJ&client=firefox-a&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q=&f=false|title=The Importance of Educating the Infant Poor|year=1823|first=Samuel|last=Wilderspin|place=London}}</ref> and went on to establish hundreds more. He published many works on the subject, and his work became the model for infant schools throughout England and further afield. Play was an important part of Wilderspin's system of education. He is credited with inventing the [[playground]]. In 1823, Wilderspin published ''On the Importance of Educating the Infant Poor'', based on the school. He began working for the Infant School Society the next year, informing others about his views. He also wrote "The Infant System, for developing the physical, intellectual, and moral powers of all *****ren from 1 to seven years of age".

===Spread===
[[Image:Frederick-Froebel-Bardeen.jpeg|thumb|right|upright|[[Friedrich Fröbel]] created the name Kindergarten in German in 1840.]]
Countess [[Theresa Brunszvik]] (1775–1861), who had known and been influenced by [[Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi]], was influenced by this example to open an ''Angyalkert'' ('angel garden' in Hungarian) on May 27, 1828 in her residence in [[Budapest|Buda]], the first of eleven care centers that she founded for ***** *****ren.<ref>Budapest Lexikon, 1993</ref><ref>Public Preschool Education In Hungary: A Historical Survey, 1980</ref>  In 1836 she established an institute for the foundation of preschool centers. The idea became popular among the nobility and the middle class and was copied throughout the Hungarian kingdom.

[[Friedrich Fröbel]] (1782–1852) opened a ''Play and Activity'' institute in 1837 in the village of [[Bad Blankenburg]] in the [[principality]] of [[Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt]], Thuringia,  as an  experimental social experience for *****ren entering school. He renamed his institute ''Kindergarten'' on June 28, 1840, reflecting his belief that *****ren should be nurtured of and nourished 'like plants in a garden'.

Women trained by Fröbel opened Kindergartens throughout Europe and around the World. The [[First Kindergarten|first kindergarten]] in the United States was founded in [[Watertown, Wisconsin]] in 1856 and was conducted in German.<ref>[https://www.WatertownHistory.org Watertownhistory.org]</ref>

[[Elizabeth Peabody]] founded America's first English-language kindergarten in 1860 and the first free kindergarten in America was founded in 1870 by [[Conrad Poppenhusen]], a German industrialist and philanthropist, who also established the [[Poppenhusen Institute]] and the first publicly financed kindergarten in the United States was established in [[St. Louis]] in 1873 by [[Susan Blow]].

Canada's first private kindergarten was opened by the [[Wesleyan Church|Wesleyan Methodist Church]] in [[Charlottetown]], [[Prince Edward Island]] in 1870 and by the end of the decade, they were common in large Canadian towns and cities.<ref>Olsen, M.I. 1955. "The development of play schools and kindergartens and an analysis of a sampling of these institutions in Alberta. Master’s thesis, University of Alberta."</ref><ref>Larry Prochner, "A History of Early Education and ***** Care in Canada, 1820-1966" in ''Early *****hood Care and Education in Canada'' (eds. Larry Prochner and Nina Howe), Vancouver: UBC Press, 2000</ref> The country's first public-school kindergartens were established in [[Berlin, Ontario]] in 1882 T [[Suddaby Public School|Central School]]).<ref name="can-au-nz">Larry Prochner, ''History of Early *****hood Education in Canada, Australia and New Zealand'', UBC Press 2009</ref> In 1885, the [[Toronto Normal School]] (teacher training) opened a department for Kindergarten teaching.<ref name="can-au-nz" />

[[Elizabeth Harrison (educator)|Elizabeth Harrison]] wrote extensively on the theory of [[early *****hood education]] and worked to enhance educational standards for kindergarten teachers by establishing what became the [[National-Louis University|National College of Education]] in 1886.

==Country by country==
{{see also|Category:Education by country}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2010|}}<!--Some sub-sections below are contain no references-->
Describing the use of the term around the world.

===Afghanistan===
{{see also|Education in Afghanistan}}
[[Image:AF-kindergarten.jpg|frame|A kindergarten classroom in Afghanistan.]]

In [[Afghanistan]], *****ren between the age of 3 and 6 attend kindergartens {[[Dari]])کودکستان/([[Pashto language|Pashto]])وړکتون}, which though not part of the school system are often run by the government.

ECD programs were first introduced during the Soviet occupation with the establishment in 1980 of 27 urban preschools, or kodakistan. The number of preschools grew steadily during the 1980s, reaching a high of more than 270 by 1990, with 2,300 teachers caring for more than 21,000 *****ren. These facilities were an urban phenomenon, mostly in Kabul, and were attached to schools, government offices, or factories. Based on the Soviet model, they provided nursery care, preschool, and kindergarten for *****ren from 3 months to 6 years of age under the direction of the Department of Labor and Social Welfare.

The vast majority of Afghan families were never exposed to this system, and most of those who were never fully accepted it because it diminished the central role of the family and inculcated *****ren with Soviet values. With the onset of civil war after the Soviet withdrawal, the number of kindergartens dropped rapidly. By 1995, only 88 functioning facilities serving 2,110 *****ren survived, and the Taliban restrictions on female employment eliminated all of the remaining centers in areas under their control. In 2007, there were about 260 early years centers serving over 25000 *****ren. Though every governmental center is required to have an early *****hood center,{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} at present, no governmental policies deal with early *****hood and no institutions have either the responsibility or the capacity to provide such services.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
[[Image:Kindergarten in VN.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A kindergarten in [[Hanoi]] – [[Vietnam]] in 2011]]

===Australia and New Zealand===
{{See also|Education in Australia|Education in New Zealand}}
In each state of Australia, ''kindergarten'' (frequently referred to as 'kinder' or 'kindy') means something slightly different. In [[Tasmania]], New South Wales and the [[Australian Capital Territory]], it is the first year of primary school. In [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], kindergarten is a form of [[preschool]] and may be referred to interchangeably as preschool or kindergarten. In Victoria and Tasmania the phrase for the first year of primary school is called ''Prep'' (short for 'preparatory'), which is followed by grade 1. In Queensland, kindergarten is usually an institution for *****ren around the age of 4 and thus it is the precursor to preschool and primary education. The year preceding the first year of primary school education in Western Australia, South Australia or the [[Northern Territory]] is referred to respectively as ''pre-primary'', ''reception'' or ''transition''.<ref>https://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/ece/enrolments.html#compare</ref>

In New Zealand, kindergarten can refer to education in the 2 years preceding primary school, from age 3 to 4. Primary Education starts at age 5.

===Bangladesh===
{{see also|Education in Bangladesh}}

In [[Bangladesh]], the term 'Kindergarten' or 'KG School (Kindergarten School)' is used to refer to the schooling of *****ren attend from 3 to 6 years of age. The names of the levels are nursery, shishu(*****ren) etc. But the view of Kinder Garten Education has changed much from previous years. Almost every rural area now has at least one Kindergarten School. Most of them are run in the Bangla language medium. They also follow the text books published by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) with a light modification, adding some extra books in syllabus. The grades generally start from Nursery (sometimes "Play"), "KG" afterwards, ends with the 5th grade. Separately, though, from the National Education System, kindergarten is contributing greatly to achieve the MDG (Millennium Development Goal).

===Bulgaria===
{{see also|Education in Bulgaria}}
In [[Bulgaria]], the term ''detska gradina'' (деτска градина) refers to the schooling *****ren attend from 3 to 7 (in some cases 6) years of age. The last year of kindergarten is also referred to as preschool. It is elective. The actual school starts as grade 1.

===Canada===
{{See also|Education in Canada}}
[[Image:Student teachers Kindergarten 1898.jpg|thumb|Student teachers training in a kindergarten class in 1898 in Toronto, Canada.]]

Within the province of [[Quebec]], junior kindergarten is called ''prématernelle'' (which is not mandatory), is attended by 4-year-olds, and senior kindergarten is called ''maternelle'', which is also not mandatory by the age of 5, this class is integrated into primary schools. Within the French school system in the province of [[Ontario]], junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten are called ''maternelle'' and senior kindergarten is sometimes called ''jardin d'enfants'', which is a [[calque]] of the German word ''Kindergarten''.

Outside [[Quebec]] and [[Ontario]], there is only one year of kindergarten, except some private schools offer junior kindergarten for 4-year-olds (school before kindergarten is most commonly referred to as pre-school). After kindergarten, the ***** begins grade one. The province of [[Nova Scotia]] refers to Kindergarten as Grade Primary.

===Chile===
{{see also|Education in Chile}}
In Chile, the term equivalent to Kindergarten is "''Educación parvularia''", sometimes also called "''Educación Preescolar''". It is the first level of the [[Education in Chile|Chilean educational system]]. It meets the needs of boys and girls integrally from their birth until their entry to the ''Educación Básica'' (Primary education), without being considered as compulsory. Generally, schools imparting this level, the JUNJI (National Council of Kindergarten Schools) and other private institutions have the following organization of groups or sub categories of levels:
*'''Low nursery:''' It addresses babies from 85 days to 1 year old.
*'''High nursery:''' It addresses *****ren from 1 to 2 years old.
*'''Low Middle Level:''' It addresses *****ren from 2 to 3 years old.
*'''High Middle Level:''' It addresses *****ren from 3 to 4 years old.
*'''First level of transition:''' Often called "''Pre-kinder''", it addresses *****ren from 4 to 5 years old.
*'''Second level of transition''': Usually called "''Kinder''", it addresses *****ren from 5 to 6 years old. It is the last phase of this type of education, by finishing it, *****ren go to "''Primero Básico''" ([[First grade]] of primary education).<ref>[https://600.mineduc.cl/docs/informacion/info_guia/guia_parv.pdf Chilean Ministry of Education – Help Guide, Educación Parvularia]</ref>

===China===
{{see also|Education in China}}
In China, the equivalent term to kindergarten is 幼儿园 (yòu ér yuán). The *****ren start attending kindergarten at the age of 3 until they are at least 6 years old. The kindergartens in China generally have the following grades:
# Nursery/ Playgroup (小班/xiăo bān): 3- to 4-year-old *****ren
# Lower Kindergarten/ LKG (中班/zhōng bān): 4- to 5-year-old *****ren
# Upper Kindergarten/ UKG (大班/dà bān): 5- to 6-year-old *****ren
# Preschool (学前班/xué qián bān): 5- to 6-year-old *****ren Some kindergartens may not have preschool (学前班/xué qián bān).

The public kindergartens only accept *****ren older than 3 years, while private ones do not have such limitations.

===Denmark===
{{Main|Danish pre-school education}}

Kindergarten is a day-care service offered to *****ren from age three until the ***** starts attending school. Kindergarten classes (grade 0) are voluntary and are offered by primary schools before a ***** enters 1st grade.

Two-thirds of established day-care institutions in [[Denmark]] are municipal day-care centres while the other third are privately owned and are run by associations of parents or businesses in agreement with local authorities. In terms of both finances and subject-matter, municipal and private institutions function according to the same principles.

Denmark is credited with pioneering (although not inventing) [[forest kindergarten]]s, in which *****ren spend most of every day outside in a natural environment.

===Egypt===
{{see also|Education in Egypt}}

In Egypt, *****ren may go to kindergartens for two years (KG1 and KG2) between the ages of four and six.

===France===
{{see also|Education in France}}
In France, pre-school is known as ''école maternelle'' (French for "nursery school"). Free ''maternelle'' schools are available throughout the country, welcoming *****ren aged from 2 to 6 (although in many places, *****ren under three may not be granted a place). The ages are divided into ''Grande section'' (GS: 5-year-olds), ''Moyenne section'' (MS: 4-year-olds), ''Petite section'' (PS: 3-year-olds) and ''Toute petite section'' (TPS: 2-year-olds). It is not compulsory, yet almost 100% of *****ren aged 3 to 5 attend. It is regulated by the [[Ministry of National Education (France)|Ministry of National Education]].

===Germany===
{{see also|Education in Germany}}
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-37156-0001, Beentz, Erntekindergartengruppe.jpg|thumb|German Kindergarten, 1954]]

The German pre-school is known as a ''Kindergarten'' (plural ''Kindergärten''). There is also a ''Kita'', short for '''''Ki'''nder'''ta'''gesstätte'' (meaning "*****ren's daycare center"), labeled that way to stress full day care for *****ren, usually also taking *****ren under the age of 3. *****ren between the ages of 3 and 6 attend ''Kindergärten'', which are not part of the [[States of Germany|state]]-run official school system, therefore attendance is optional. They are often run by city or town administrations, churches, or registered societies, many of which follow a certain educational approach as represented, e.g., by [[Montessori]] or [[Reggio Emilia approach|Reggio Emilia]] or "Berliner Bildungsprogramm" or [[Waldorf education|Waldorf]], etc. Due to the prevalent religions present in Germany, i.e. [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Protestant]]s, even in smaller townships often there are at least one catholic and one protestant kindergarten available. [[Forest kindergarten]]s are well established. Attending a ''Kindergarten'' is neither mandatory nor free of charge, but can be partly or (rarely) wholly funded, depending on the local authority and the income of the parents. All caretakers in Kita or Kindergarten must have a three-year qualified education, or are under special supervision during training.

''Kindergärten'' can be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or longer and may also house a ''Kinderkrippe'', meaning crèche, for *****ren between the ages of eight weeks and three years, and possibly an afternoon ''Hort'' (often associated with a primary school) for school-age *****ren aged 6 to 10 who spend the time after their lessons there. Alongside nurseries, there are day-care nurses (called ''Tagesmutter'', plural ''Tagesmütter'' – the formal, gender-neutral form is ''Tagespflegeperson(en)'') working independently from any pre-school institution in individual homes and looking after only three to five *****ren typically up to three years of age. These nurses are supported and supervised by local authorities.

The term ''Vorschule'', meaning ‘pre-school’, is used both for educational efforts in ''Kindergärten'' and for a mandatory class that is usually connected to a primary school. Both systems are handled differently in each [[States of Germany|German state]]. The ''Schulkindergarten'' is a type of Vorschule.

===Hong Kong===
{{see also|Education in Hong Kong}}
Pre-primary Services in [[Hong Kong]] refers to provision of education and care to ***** *****ren by kindergartens and ***** care centres. Kindergartens, registered with the Education Bureau, provide services for *****ren from three to six years old. ***** care centres, on the other hand, are registered with the Social Welfare Department and include nurseries, catering for *****ren aged two to three, and creches, looking after infants from birth to two.

At present, most of the kindergartens operate on half-day basis offering upper, lower kindergarten classes and nursery classes. Some kindergartens operate full-day kindergarten classes too. ***** care centres also provide full-day and half-day services with most centres providing full-day services.

The aim of pre-primary education in Hong Kong is to provide *****ren with a relaxing and pleasurable learning environment to promote a balanced development of different aspects necessary to a *****'s development such as the physical, intellectual, language, social, emotional and aesthetic aspects.

To help establish the culture of self-evaluation in kindergartens and to provide reference for the public in assessing the quality and standard of pre-primary education, the Education Bureau has developed Performance Indicators for pre-primary institutions in Hong Kong. Commencing in the 2000/01 school year, Quality Assurance Inspection was launched to further promote the development of quality Early *****hood Education.

===Hungary===
{{see also|Education in Hungary}}
[[Image:OVODA.jpg|thumb|A [[Hungary|Hungarian]] pre-school class having outdoor activities, March 2007.]]
In [[Hungary]] a kindergarten is called an ''óvoda'' ('place for caring'). *****ren attend kindergarten between ages 3–6/7 (they go to school in the year in which they have their 7th birthday). Attendance in kindergarten is compulsory from the age of 3 years, though exceptions are made for developmental reasons.<ref>[https://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/?tx_ttnews&#91;tt_news&#93;=9571  Hungary lowers mandatory school age to three]</ref> Though kindergartens may include programs in subjects such as foreign languages and music, *****ren spend most of their time playing. In their last year *****ren begin to be prepared to attend elementary school.

Most kindergartens are state-funded. Kindergarten teachers are required to have a diploma.

===India===<!-- This section is linked from [[Baroda High School, Alkapuri]] -->
{{see also|Education in India}}
In [[India]], there are only informal directives pertaining to pre-primary education, for which pre-primary schools and sections need no affiliation. Directives state that *****ren who are three years old as on 30 May in the given academic year are eligible to attend Nursery and Kindergarten classes. Typically, *****ren spend 3 to 4 years of their time in pre-primary school after which they are eligible to attend 1st Standard in Primary School which falls under HRD ministry norms. Primary education in now compulsory in India and accompanied with mid-day meals in most part of the country run by govt. Pre-Primary is not mandatory however preferred. All government schools and affiliated private schools allow *****ren who are 5 years in age as in 30th-May to enroll to standard 1 of a primary school.

===Italy===
{{see also|Education in Italy}}
[[File:Nursery school classroom.jpg|250px|thumb|Typical classroom layout in an [[:it:Asilo nido|Italian nursery school]]. From left to right: restroom, bathroom, playroom and outdoor playground]]In [[Italy]] pre-school education refers to two different grades:
* nursery schools, called [[:it:Asilo nido|''asili-nido'']] for *****ren up to three years;
* [[:it:Scuola dell'infanzia|maternal schools]] (''scuola materna'' or ''scuola dell'infanzia'', but more popularly unofficially ''asilo'') for *****ren 3 to 5 years old.
''Asili-nido'' have been settled after a 1971 State Law (L. 1044/1971) and may be ruled either by private or public institutions.
Italian ''asili-nido'' were originally settled to allow mothers a chance to work out of their home, and therefore were seen as a social service. Today, they have mostly the purpose to help *****ren in growing, communicating and learning. In Italy, much effort has been spent on developing a pedagogical approach to *****ren's care: well known is the so-called [[Reggio Emilia approach|Reggio Approach]] (after the name of Reggio Emilia city, in [[Emilia-Romagna]]). Emilia Romagna [[Regione|Region]] is recognized as a leader for innovative approach to *****ren's education.

''Asili-nido'' are normally settled in small one-story buildings, surrounded by gardens; buildings are always small and usually are suitable for no more than 60 or 70 *****ren. The heart of the ''asili-nido'' are the classrooms, split in playroom and restroom; the playroom always has windows and doors leading to the outside playground and garden.

Maternal schools (''Scuola materna'') were settled in 1968 after State Law n. 444 and are a full part of Italian official education system, though attendance is not compulsory. As well as ''asili-nido'' (nursery schools), maternal schools may be held either by public or private institutions.

===Japan===
{{see also|Education in Japan}}
Early *****hood education begins at home, and there are numerous books and television shows aimed at helping mothers & fathers of preschool *****ren to educate their *****ren and to parent more effectively. Much of the home training is devoted to teaching manners, proper social behavior, and structured play, although verbal and number skills are also popular themes. Parents are strongly committed to early education and frequently enroll their *****ren in preschools.

Kindergartens (yōchien 幼稚園), predominantly staffed by ***** female junior college graduates, are supervised by the Ministry of Education, but are not part of the official education system. The 58 percent of kindergartens that are private accounted for 77 percent of all *****ren enrolled. In addition to kindergartens there exists a well-developed system of government-supervised day-care centers (hoikuen 保育園), supervised by the Ministry of Labor. Whereas kindergartens follow educational aims, preschools are predominately concerned with providing care for infants and toddlers. Just as there are public and private kindergartens, there are both public and privately run preschools. Together, these two kinds of institutions enroll well over 90 percent of all preschool-age *****ren prior to their entrance into the formal system at [[first grade]]. The Ministry of Education's 1990 Course of Study for Preschools, which applies to both kinds of institutions, covers such areas as human relationships, health, environment, words (language), and expression. Starting from March 2008 the new revision of curriculum guidelines for kindergartens as well as for preschools came into effect.

===South Korea===
{{see also|Education in South Korea}}
In [[South Korea]], *****ren normally attend kindergarten between the ages of three or four and six or seven in the Western age system. (Korean *****ren's ages are calculated differently from Western *****ren's ages: when they are born they are one year old, rather than one day old. Also, every January 1, everyone's age increases by one year regardless of when their birthday is. Hence in Korea, kindergarten *****ren are called "five, six and seven" year olds.). The school year begins in March. It is followed by primary school. Normally the kindergartens are graded on a three-tier basis. They are called "Yuchi won" ({{lang-ko|유치원}}).

Korean kindergartens are private schools. Costs per month vary. Korean parents often send their *****ren to English kindergartens to give them a [[Head start (positioning)|head start]] in English. Such specialized kindergartens can be mostly taught in Korean with some English lessons, mostly taught in English with some Korean lessons, or completely taught in English. Almost all middle-class parents send their *****ren to kindergarten.

Kindergarten programs in South Korea attempt to incorporate much academic instruction alongside more playful activities. Korean kindergarteners learn to read, write (often in English as well as Korean) and do simple arithmetic. Classes are conducted in a traditional classroom setting, with the *****ren focused on the teacher and one lesson or activity at a time. The goal of the teacher is to overcome weak points in each *****'s knowledge or skills.

Because the education system in Korea is very competitive, kindergartens are becoming more intensely academic nowadays. *****ren are pushed to read and write at a very ***** age. They also become accustomed to regular and considerable amounts of [[homework]]. These very ***** *****ren may also attend other specialized afternoon schools, taking lessons in art, piano or violin, [[taekwondo]], ballet, soccer or [[mathematics]].

===Kosovo===

In [[Kosovo]], kindergarten is known as ''Çerdhe'' or ''Kopshti i fëmijëve'', and they serve as Day Care Centers. There are public and private kindergartens, and they are for *****ren under the age of 3. *****ren between 3-6 years old go to ''Institucione parashkollore'', which are different from the Day Care Centers, because here *****ren start the basic learning process, and they serve as preparatory institutions for the Primary School. After the age of 6, *****ren continue in Primary School. However, neither the Day Care Centers nor the Preparatory Institutions are mandatory.

===Kuwait===
{{see also|Education in Kuwait}}
In [[Kuwait]], Kuwaiti *****ren may go to free kindergartens for two year (KG1 and KG2) between the ages of four and six.

===Macedonia===
{{see also|Education in Macedonia}}
[[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonian]] equivalent of the kindergarten is детска градинка (''detska gradinka''), sometimes called забавиште (''zabavishte'') when the ***** are *****er than 4 years. Detska gradinka is not part of the state mandatory education, because the educational process in the country begins at the age of 5-6, i.e. first grade.

===Malaysia===
{{see also|Education in Malaysia}}
In [[Malaysia]], kindergarten is known as "tadika". Most kindergarten available to *****ren of ages five and six (and some available to *****ren of ages four). For *****ren of ages three (and some until ages of four), there are [[Pre-school playgroup]]s for them. There is no fixed rules on when a ***** needs to go to a kindergarten but majority will when the ***** turns 5 years old. The ***** will go to kindergarten usually for 2 years, that is when they are at age 5 and 6, before they proceed to [[primary school]] at age 7.<ref name="Malaysia">[[Education in Malaysia#School grades|Education in Malaysia - School grades]], view Malaysian school grades here.</ref>

===Mexico===
{{see also|Education in Mexico}}
In [[Mexico]], kindergarten is called "kínder," with the last year sometimes referred to as "preprimaria" (''primaria'' is the name given to grades 1 through 6, so the name literally means "prior to elementary school"). It consists of three years of pre-school education, which are mandatory before elementary school. Previous nursery is optional, and may be offered in either private schools or [[Public school (government funded)|public schools]].

At private schools, kinders usually consist of three grades, and a fourth one may be added for nursery. The fourth one is called maternal. It goes before the other three years and is not obligatory. While the [[first grade]] is a [[pre-school playgroup|playgroup]], the other two are of classroom education.

The kindergarten system in Mexico was developed by professor [[Rosaura Zapata]] (1876–1963), who received the country's highest honor for that contribution.

In 2002, the [[Congress of Mexico|Congress of the Union]] approved the ''Law of Obligatory Pre-schooling'', which already made pre-school education for three to six-year-olds obligatory, and placed it under the auspices of the federal and state ministries of education.<ref>[https://www.senado.gob.mx/internacionales/assets/docs/relaciones_parlamentarias/america/foros/parla_latino/salud5.pdf Senado.gob.mx]</ref><ref>[https://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/16/20/37423645.pdf OECD.org]</ref>

===Mongolia===
{{see also|Education in Mongolia}}
In [[Mongolia]], kindergarten is known as "цэцэрлэг" or tsetserleg. As of September 2013, there are approximately 152 kindergarten registered in the country. From those 152 kindergarten, 142 are state owned. *****ren begin a kindergarten at age of 2 and finish it by 5.

The education system before kindergarten in Mongolia is called "ясль" which accepts *****ren between 0-2 age.

===Morocco===
{{see also|Education in Morocco}}
In [[Morocco]], pre-school is known as ''école maternelle'', ''Kuttab'', or ''Ar-Rawd''. State-run, free ''maternelle'' schools are available throughout the kingdom, welcoming *****ren aged from 2 to 5 (although in many places, *****ren under 3 may not be granted a place). It is not compulsory, yet almost 80% of *****ren aged 3 to 5 attend. It is regulated by the Moroccan department of education.

===Nepal===
{{see also|Education in Nepal}}
In Nepal, kindergarten is simply known as "kindergarten". Kindergarten is run as a private education institution and all the privately run educational instituitions are in English medium. So, kindergarten education is also in English medium in Nepal. The *****ren start attending kindergarten at the age of 2 until they are at least 5 years old. The kindergartens in Nepal have following grades:
#Nursery/ Playgroup: 2- to 3-year-old *****ren
#Lower Kindergarten/ LKG: 3- to 4-year-old *****ren
#Upper Kindergarten/ UKG: 4- to 5-year-old *****ren

The kindergarten education in Nepal is almost similar to that of Hong Kong and India. All the books in private education institution are in English except one compulsory Nepali.

===Netherlands===
{{see also|Education in Netherlands}}
In the [[Netherlands]], the equivalent term to kindergarten was ''kleuterschool''. From the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century the term ''Fröbelschool'' was also common, after [[Friedrich Fröbel]]. However this term gradually faded in use as the verb ''Fröbelen'' gained a slight derogatory meaning in everyday language. Until 1985, it used to be a separate non-compulsory form of education (for *****ren aged 4–6 years), after which *****ren (aged 6–12 years) attended the primary school (''lagere school''). After 1985, both forms were integrated into one, called ''basisonderwijs'' (Dutch for primary education). For *****ren under 4 the country offers private, subsidized daycares, Dutch: ''kinderdagverblijf'', which are non compulsory, but nevertheless very popular.

===Norway===
{{see also|Education in Norway}}
In [[Norway]], ''barnehage'' (*****ren's garden) is the term equivalent to kindergarten, used for *****ren in the ages between 10 months and 6 years. The first barnehager were founded in Norway in late 19th century. Even though they have existed for 120 years, they are not considered to be part of the education system. They are both publicly and privately owned and operated. The staff, at minimum the manager, should be educated as ''førskolelærer'' (pre-school teachers). The *****ren spend most of the time outdoors. There is also an institution called ''barnepark'' (*****ren's park), which does not have to certified staff.

===Peru===
{{see also|Education in Peru}}
In [[Peru]], the term ''nido'' refers to the schooling *****ren attend from 3 to 6 years of age. It is followed by primary school classes, which last for six years. Some families choose to send their *****ren to primary school at the age of 6. In 1902 the teacher Elvira Garcia and Garcia co-founder of the Society cited above, organized the first kindergarten for *****ren 2 to 8 years old, Fanning annex to the Lyceum for ladies. Her studies and concern for *****ren led her to spread through conferences and numerous documents, the importance of protecting *****ren early and to respond to the formation of a personality based on justice and understanding, as well as the use of methods Fröbel and from Montessori and participation of parents in this educational task.

===Philippines===
{{see also|Education in the Philippines}}
In the [[Philippines]], [[Education in the Philippines|education]] officially starts at the [[Education in the Philippines#Primary school|Elementary]] level and placing *****ren into early *****hood education through kindergarten is optional to parents. Early *****hood Education in the Philippines are classified into:
* '''Center-based programs''', such as the [[Barangay]] day care service, public and private pre-schools, kindergarten or school-based programs, community or church-based early *****hood education programs initiated by nongovernment organizations or people's organizations, workplace-related ***** care and education programs, *****-minding centers, health centers and stations; and
* '''Home-based programs''', such as the neighborhood-based play groups, family day care programs, parent education and home visiting programs.
Early *****hood education is strengthened through the creation of Republic Act No. 8980<ref>[https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2000/ra_8980_2000.html Lawphil.net]</ref> or the Early *****hood Care and Development Act of 2000. In 2011, the Department of Education disseminated copies of the Kindergarten Education Act through Republic Act No. 10157 making it compulsory and mandatory in the entire nation. As provisions in this law, *****ren under five years old will be required to enroll in the kindergarten in any public elementary in the country. This goes with the implementation of the K-12 system in the Basic Education Curriculum.

===Romania===
{{see also|Education in Romania}}
In [[Romania]], ''grădiniţă'', which means "little garden" is the favored form of education for preschool (under-6 or under-7) *****ren. The *****ren are divided in "little group" (''grupa mică'' age 3–4), "medium group" (''grupa mijlocie'' age up to 5) and "big group" (''grupa mare'' up to 6 or 7). In the last few years, private kindergartens have become popular, supplementing the state preschool education system.

===Russia===
{{see also|Education in Russia}}
[[File:Detsad Leningrad 1930s.jpg|thumb|Detsad 1920s|*****ren of a kindergarten on a walk, Leningrad, Russia, 1930s]]
In the [[Russia|Russian Federation]] ''Детский сад'' (literal translation of a *****ren's garden) is an [[Education Institution]] for *****ren usually 3 to 6 years of age. It is a ''Дошкольное образовательное учреждение'' (preschool educational institution).

===Singapore===
{{see also|Education in Singapore}}
Kindergartens in [[Singapore]] provide up to three years of pre-school programs for *****ren aged between three and six. The three-year program, known as ''nursery'', ''kindergarten 1 (K1)'' and ''kindergarten 2 (K2)'' prepares *****ren for their first year in [[Education in Singapore|primary school education]]. Some kindergartens further divide nursery into N1 and N2.

===Spain===
In Spain, kindergarten is called: "infantil" or "ciclo infantil" and serves *****ren from 3 to 6 years of age. It used to be called "parvulitos". 

===Sudan===
{{see also|Education in Sudan}}
Kindergarten in Sudan is divided into private and public kindergarten. Preschool is compulsory in Sudan. The proper Kindergarten age spans from 3–6 years. The curriculum covers Arabic, Religion, English, Mathematics and more.

===Sweden===
{{see also|Education in Sweden}}
In [[Sweden]], the Kindergarten activities were established in the 19th century, and have widely been expanded since the 1970s.

===Taiwan===
{{see also|Education in Taiwan}}
While many public kindergartens and preschools exist in [[Taiwan]], private kindergartens and preschools are also quite popular. Many private preschools offer accelerated courses in various subjects to compete with public preschools and capitalize on public demand for academic achievement. Curriculum at such preschools often encompasses subject material such as science, art, physical education and even mathematics classes. The majority of these schools are part of large school chains, which operate under franchise arrangements. In return for annual fees, the chain enterprises may supply advertising, curriculum, books, materials, training, and even staff for each individual school.

There has been a huge growth in the number of privately owned and operated English immersion preschools in Taiwan since 1999. These English immersion preschools generally employ native English speaking teachers to teach the whole preschool curriculum in an ‘English only’ environment. The legality of these types of schools has been called into question on many occasions, yet they continue to prosper. Some members of Taiwanese society have raised concerns as to whether local *****ren should be placed in English immersion environments at such a ***** age, and have raised fears that the students abilities in their mother language may suffer as a result. The debate continues, but at the present time, the market for English Immersion Preschools continues to grow.

===Ukraine===
{{see also|Education in Ukraine}}
In 2010 a total of 56% of *****ren aged one to six years old had the opportunity to attend [[preschool education]], the Education and Science Ministry of Ukraine reported in August 2010.<ref>[https://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/78029/ Education Ministry: Some 44 percent of *****ren unable to attend kindergarten], [[Kyiv Post]] (August 11, 2010)</ref> Many preschools and kindergarten where closed previously in light of [[Economy of Ukraine|economic]] and [[Demographics of Ukraine|demographic]] considerations.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Avq58dqJwMkC&pg=PA1226&dq=kindergarten+Ukraine&hl=nl&ei=7PFuTOHXFYGRjAem-pD8CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CGYQ6AEwCTge#v=onepage&q=kindergarten%20Ukraine&f=false Encyclopedia of Motherhood] by [[Andrea O'Reilly]], [[Sage Publications, Inc]], 2010, ISBN 978-1-4129-6846-1 (page 1226)</ref>

===United Kingdom===
{{see also|Education in United Kingdom}}
The term kindergarten is rarely used in Britain to describe pre-school education; pre-schools are usually known as nursery schools or [[pre-school playgroup|playgroups]]. However, the word "kindergarten" is used for more specialist organisations such as [[forest kindergarten]]s, and is sometimes used in the naming of private nurseries that provide full-day ***** care for working parents.

In the UK *****ren have the option of attending nursery at the ages of three or four years, before compulsory education begins. Before that, less structured *****care is available privately. The details vary slightly between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Some nurseries are attached to state [[infant school|infant]] or primary schools, but many are provided by the private sector. The government provides funding<ref name="scottish-state-funding">[https://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/*****-People/Early-Education-*****-Care/17970/11874 *****care regulations] of the Scottish Government</ref> so that all *****ren from the age of three until they start compulsory school, can receive five sessions per week of two and a half hours each, either in state-run or private nurseries. Working parents can also spend £55 per week free of income taxes,<ref name="taxfreevouchers">[https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/*****care/ Tax Free *****care Regulations], UK government HMRC</ref> which is typically enough to pay for one or two days per week.

The Scottish Government defines its requirements of nursery schools in the Early Years Framework<ref name="earlyyears">[https://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/257007/0076309.pdf Early Years Framework], Scottish Government, January 2009</ref> and the Curriculum for Excellence.<ref>[https://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/index.asp Ltscotland.org.uk]</ref> Each school interprets these with more or less independence (depending on their management structure), but must satisfy the Care Commission<ref>[https://www.carecommission.com Carecommission.com]</ref> in order to retain their licence to operate. The curriculum aims to develop:
* confident individuals
* effective contributors
* responsible citizens
* successful learners

<!-- This material on primary schools is not really relevant in this Kindergarten article. -->
Nursery forms part of the [[Foundation Stage]] of education. In the 1980s, England and [[Wales]] officially adopted the [[Northern Ireland|Northern Irish]] system whereby *****ren start school either in the term or year in which they will become five depending on the policy of the [[local education authority]]. In Scotland, schooling becomes compulsory between the ages of 4½ and 5½ years, depending on their birthday (school starts in August for *****ren who were 4 by the end of the preceding February). The first year of compulsory schooling is known as [[Reception (school)|Reception]] in England, ''Dosbarth Derbyn'' in [[Welsh language|Welsh]] and Primary One in Scotland  and Northern Ireland.

===United States===
{{see also|Education in the United States}}
In the United States, kindergarten is usually part of the [[K–12 (education)|K-12]] educational system. While kindergarten was once viewed as a separate part of the elementary program, it is now generally considered the first year of formal education and fully integrated into the school system.<ref name="nces53">{{cite web|title=Kindergarten requirements, by state: 2010 |url=https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_3.asp|work=Table 5.3|publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]]|accessdate=September 11, 2011|date=April 6, 2011}}</ref> In most state and private schools, *****ren begin kindergarten at age 5 to 6 and attend for one year. Though in some states kindergarten is compulsory, as the age of required schooling begins at age 5, in others, compulsory education begins at age 6, 7, or (in two states) 8. Forty-three states require their school districts to offer a kindergarten year.<ref name="nces53" />

In the [[Waldorf schools|Waldorf]] and [[Montessori schools]], *****ren may begin kindergarten as early as age 3 to 4 and stay for several years in a play- and activities-oriented program.

==See also==
* [[Forest kindergarten]]
* [[Head Start Program]]
* [[Montessori education]]
* [[Pre-math skills]]
* [[Reggio Emilia approach]]
* [[Universal preschool]]
* [[Waldorf schools]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
The following reading list relates specifically to kindergarten in North America, where it is the first year of formal schooling and not part of the pre-school system as it is in the rest of the world:

* {{cite journal|last=Cryan|first=J. R.|author2=Sheehan, R. |author3=Wiechel, J. |author4=Bandy-Hedden, I. G. |title=Success outcomes of full-day kindergarten: More positive behavior and increased achievement in the years after|journal=Early *****hood Research Quarterly|year=1992|volume=7|issue=2|pages=187–203|doi=10.1016/0885-2006(92)90004-i}}
* {{cite journal|last=Elicker|first=J.|author2=Mathur, S. |title=What do they do all day? Comprehensive evaluation of a full-day kindergarten|journal=Early *****hood Research Quarterly|year=1997|volume=12|issue=4|pages=459–480|doi=10.1016/S0885-2006(97)90022-3}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Fusaro, J. A. |first1= |last2= |first2= |year=1997 |title=The effect of full-day kindergarten on student achievement: A meta-analysis |journal=***** Study Journal |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=269–277 |publisher= |doi= |url=https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ561697 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}
* Gullo, D. F. (1990). "The changing family context: Implications for the development of all-day kindergarten." ***** *****ren, 45(4), 35–39. EJ 409 110.
* Housden, T., & Kam, R. (1992). "Full-day kindergarten: A summary of the research." Carmichael, CA: San Juan Unified School District. ED 345 868.
* Karweit, N. (1992). "The kindergarten experience." Educational Leadership, 49(6), 82–86. EJ 441 182.
* Koopmans, M. (1991). "A study of longitudal effects of all-day kindergarten attendance on achievement." Newark, NJ: Newark Board of Education. ED 336 494..
* Morrow, L. M., Strickland, D. S., & Woo, D. G.(1998). "Literacy instruction in half- and whole-day kindergarten." Newark, DE: International Reading Association. ED 436 756.
* Olsen, D., & Zigler, E.(1989). "An assessment of the all-day kindergarten movement." Early *****hood Research Quarterly, 4(2), 167–186. EJ 394 085.
* Puleo, V. T.(1988). "A review and critique of research on full-day kindergarten." Elementary School Journal, 88(4), 427–439. EJ 367 934.
* Towers, J. M. (1991). "Attitudes toward the all-day, everyday kindergarten." *****ren Today, 20(1), 25–28. EJ 431 720.
* West, J., Denton, K., & Germino-Hausken, E.(2000). "[https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2000/2000070 America's Kindergartners]" Washington, DC: National Center for Educational Statistics
* McGill-Franzen, A. (2006). "Kindergarten literacy: Matching assessment and instruction in kindergarten." New York: Scholastic.
* WestEd (2005). [https://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/rs/771 "Full-Day Kindergarten: Expanding Learning Opportunities."] San Francisco: WestEd.
* {{cite news|last=Schoenberg|first=Nara|title=Kindergarten: It's the new first grade|url=https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-09-04/features/sc-fam-0905-kindergarten-20100904_1_kindergarten-full-day-programs-early-grades|accessdate=June 26, 2012|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=September 4, 2010}}

==External links==
{{commons|Kindergarten|Kindergarten}}
*[https://www.csufresno.edu/library/subjectresources/curriculumjuvenile/kindergarten/ Sources for kindergarten teachers in the US]
*[https://www.froebelweb.org/webline.html Friedrich Fröbel timeline]
*[https://www.ericdigests.org/2002-1/kindergarten.html Recent Research on All-Day Kindergarten in the US]
*[https://www.kindersite.org/ Kindersite Project – Researching into the use of technology within Kindergartens with Kindergarten-appropriate Internet content]
*[https://www.nfb.ca/film/Kindergarten/ Watch the 1962 documentary ''Kindergarten'']
*{{Wikisource-inline|list=
**{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Kindergarten|year=1905|author=[[Paul Monroe]]|short=x |noicon=x}}
**{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Kindergarten|short=x |noicon=x}}
**{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Kindergarten, The|author=[[Patty S. Hill]]|short=x |noicon=x}}
}}

{{Educational years}}
{{Education stages}}
{{Education}}
{{Schools}}

[[Category:*****hood]]
[[Category:Early *****hood education]]
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