What is Kindergarten?

story written by psychologist Maria Baumgarten

Photo source: https://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2013/08/9780448456249_p0_v1_s600.jpg

The mother says: "Maia, you will go to kindergarten in the fall!"

"What would that kindergarten look like?", Maia asks herself. "I know what an apple, a pear, a teddy bear, even a fire fly look like; but a kindergarten? Hmmm ... Mysterious is my mom! Where can I find out what the kindergarten is? Did the other children already know? Would that be a secret? "

This was how Maia sat, thinking, trying to figure out the mystery of the word that her mother had mentioned and which she had never heard before. There was more, she remembered, mother said something like this: "In the autumn, Maia, you go to kindergarten, because all the children are going!". She said everyone, but she knows for sure that Tudor, the neighbor, doesn't go and she knows a few other children who haven't been there, because they sure would have told her about this great place.

To solve the dilemma, Maia decides to go and ask the wisest people in the family, that is adults and her older brother, maybe someone could clarify the mystery. With a forehead frowning, Maia goes to the room of her older brother, Matthew:

- Matthew, can you tell me what that kindergarten is?

- Why are you asking, Maia?

- Well, you know, mom said I have to go to kindergarten in the fall, because all the kids are going. But I don't know how it all works. Look, neighbor Tudor doesn't go. Were you, Matthew?

- Yes, I was.

- Really ?! Maia wondered. Come tell me, tell me, what is a kindergarten?

Matthew smiles at his younger sister, stops playing and tells her:

- A kindergarten is a playground for young children, just like you. At the kindergarten you will find a lot of toys: dolls, boxes, topogans, trains, cars. Do you know what I liked most about kindergarten, Maia? The fact that I made a lot of friends! But in kindergarten you have to talk nice and not hit the other children, it is very important to be able to have many friends, this is the secret, for you to know! says Matei and returns to his play.

"Is this all?" Maia asks herself. "Well, if I just play, then I'm already doing it at home in the park. There has to be something else, I have to ask my dad," so Maia goes to Dad's room.

- Daddy, Daddy, shout Maia!

- Say, my dear, Dad answers.

- Hey Daddy, what's a kindergarten?

- Hey Maia, nice memories, in kindergarten I got my best friend but there I also learned to sing songs, I learned what happens with the seasons, about animals, what they eat, how they raise their chicks, about plants, many things I learned, my dear.

- Really ?!

- Yes, but to learn so much, I tell you a secret, you always have to be careful what the teacher says, so that you don't lose any of the magic information.

- Thanks, Dad!

Maia was almost satisfied, but still, what would it be like to ask also the grandmother, who was currently visiting them.

- Hi, you know, I just found out that I'm going to kindergarten in the fall, can you please tell me what is a kindergarten?

- Oh, my dear - says the grandmother - there I heard the most beautiful stories, but also some poems I really liked. Every day I met all the children of my age from my village, older and younger. You know, Santa Claus came to the kindergarten every winter and I told him a lot of songs and poems. We were receiving very nice gifts from Santa, but I tell you a secret - so that Santa comes, we had to listen to the elderly and behave.

- What means "behave"?

- It means we talk nice with others, we listen when we are told something, we pick up toys after we play, we wash our hands before the table, we look in books without tearing the pages and many more, my dear, said Grandma laughing.

Hey, how much everyone in the family knew about kindergarten and how much they had learned! With her mind full of new information and her soul full of joy, Maia ruched to tell her mother how much she knew alreadz about that magical place.

- Maia, what's with all that joy? ask mom.

- Mommy, Mommy, I learned so many wonderful things about kindergarten! Look, at the kindergarten you can play, sing, tell stories, learn about animals. Can't wait to go, mommy, is it much longer until autumn?

Mother laughed and said:

- Not that long, but did you find out that in kindergarten you are also taught how to behave respectfully with others?

- Ahh, what is respectful?

- It means to greet the well-known persons, that is, the educating lady, the friends, the kindergarten classmates, the parents, your brother. It also teaches you how to eat with good manners, how to answer when asked; but do you know what is most beautiful, Maia?

- What?

- All these activities you do with all the other children!

- Thanks, mommy!

Maia fell asleep and was looking forward to the fall.