Preschool is an important stage in a child’s life that helps them socialize and prepare for school. Different countries in Europe have their own characteristics and approaches to organizing preschool education. In this article, we will compare kindergartens in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Cyprus, Romania, and Poland.
- Italy
In Italy, kindergartens (asilo nido) accept children from 3 months to 3 years old. The preschool education system in the country focuses on the development of the child’s emotional and social spheres. Italian kindergartens offer a variety of programs, including art, music, and physical activity. It is important to note that there is a high level of parental involvement in the educational process in Italy, which helps create a comfortable and friendly atmosphere.
Examples of kindergartens in Italy:
- Il Giardino dei Bimbi
- Address: Via dei Monti, 45, 00181 Roma RM, Italy
- Website: ilgiardinodeibimbi.it
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Nido d’Infanzia Il Piccolo Mondo
- Address: Via della Libertà, 12, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
- Website: ilpiccolomondo.it
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Asilo Nido La Coccinella
- Address: Via delle Rose, 22, 00195 Roma RM, Italy
- Website: lacoccinella.it
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Nido d’Infanzia Il Mondo dei Piccoli
- Address: Via dei Fiori, 15, 00199 Roma RM, Italy
- Website: ilmondodeipiccoli.it
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Asilo Nido Il Mosaico
- Address: Via della Repubblica, 10, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
- Website: ilmosaico.it
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Germany
Germany offers a system of kindergartens (Kindergarten) for children aged 3 to 6 years. The main focus is on developing independence and social skills. In German kindergartens, play-based learning methods are widely used, allowing children to develop in a natural environment. Inclusive kindergartens that accept children with special educational needs are also actively developing in the country.
Examples of kindergartens in Germany:
- Kita Am Park
- Address: Am Park 10, 10407 Berlin, Germany
- Website: kitaampark.de
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Kita Sonnenblume
- Address: Sonnenallee 45, 12045 Berlin, Germany
- Website: kitasonnenblume.de
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Kita Kleine Strolche
- Address: Hauptstraße 30, 10827 Berlin, Germany
- Website: kleinestrolche.de
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Kita Regenbogen
- Address: Regenbogenstraße 1, 10435 Berlin, Germany
- Website: kitaregenbogen.de
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Kita Abenteuerland
- Address: Abenteuerring 5, 10318 Berlin, Germany
- Website: kitaabenteuerland.de
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Switzerland
Swiss kindergartens (Kindergarten) accept children aged 4 to 6 years. Education in Switzerland is characterized by multilingualism and cultural diversity. Kindergartens focus on integrating children from different cultures. Programs include outdoor play, art activities, and music. Parents are actively involved in the life of the kindergarten, which helps to create strong ties between the family and the educational institution.
Examples of kindergartens in Switzerland:
- Kita Zürich
- Address: Bahnhofstrasse 100, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
- Website: kitazurich.ch
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Kita Regenbogen
- Address: Regensbergstrasse 10, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland
- Website: kita-regenbogen.ch
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Kita Bärenhöfli
- Address: Bärenhöfliweg 5, 8048 Zürich, Switzerland
- Website: baerenhoefli.ch
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Kita Chindertraum
- Address: Rütistrasse 10, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland
- Website: chindertraum.ch
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Kita Zwerge
- Address: Zwergerweg 3, 8153 Rümlang, Switzerland
- Website: kita-zwerge.ch
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Cyprus
In Cyprus, kindergartens accept children from 3 to 5 years old. Education in kindergartens focuses on developing basic skills through play. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in early education, and many kindergartens are implementing programs aimed at developing critical thinking and creativity. Private kindergartens are also actively developing in the country, offering various educational approaches.
Examples of kindergartens in Cyprus:
- Little Learners
- Address: 5, Agias Fylaxeos, 3083 Limassol, Cyprus
- Website: littlelearnerscy.com
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Happy Kids Nursery
- Address: 20, Kallipoleos, 1010 Nicosia, Cyprus
- Website: happykids.com.cy
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Kids Academy
- Address: 12, Makariou Avenue, 6015 Larnaca, Cyprus
- Website: kidsacademy.com.cy
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Bright Minds Nursery
- Address: 15, Agios Nikolaos, 4041 Limassol, Cyprus
- Website: brightminds.com.cy
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Rainbow Nursery
- Address: 10, Michalaki Kyprianou, 2400 Larnaca, Cyprus
- Website: rainbownurserycy.com
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Romania
In Romania, kindergartens (grădiniță) accept children from 3 to 6 years old. Education in kindergartens mainly focuses on preparing for school, including teaching the basics of reading and writing. However, in recent years there has been a shift towards more play-based learning methods, which positively affects children’s development. Romanian kindergartens often conduct classes in art and physical education.
Examples of kindergartens in Romania:
- Grădinița cu Program Prelungit Nr. 7
- Address: Strada Câmpului 12, 030555 București, Romania
- Website: gpp7.ro
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Grădinița “Micul Artist”
- Address: Strada Căpitan Avram Iancu 10, 050124 București, Romania
- Website: grădinițamiculartist.ro
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Grădinița “Căsuța cu Povești”
- Address: Strada Ion Mihalache 45, 011184 București, Romania
- Website: casutacupovesti.ro
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Grădinița “Pinochio”
- Address: Strada Măgurele 5, 031301 București, Romania
- Website: grădinițapinochio.ro
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Grădinița “Bambi”
- Address: Strada Toma Caragiu 12, 061339 București, Romania
- Website: bambi.ro
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Poland
Polish kindergartens (przedszkole) accept children from 3 to 6 years old and offer a variety of programs aimed at developing various skills. In Poland, there is a focus on integrating children with special needs, as well as developing language skills, particularly in the context of learning English. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in environmental education, and many kindergartens are implementing programs aimed at protecting the environment.
Examples of kindergartens in Poland:
- Przedszkole nr 1
- Address: ul. Wspólna 10, 02-508 Warszawa, Poland
- Website: przedszkole1.waw.pl
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Przedszkole “Bajka”
- Address: ul. Słowiańska 15, 03-709 Warszawa, Poland
- Website: bajka.waw.pl
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Przedszkole “Kwiaty Polskie”
- Address: ul. Królowej Jadwigi 12, 01-195 Warszawa, Poland
- Website: kwiatypolskie.pl
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Przedszkole nr 3
- Address: ul. Lechitów 5, 02-382 Warszawa, Poland
- Website: przedszkole3.waw.pl
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Przedszkole “Słoneczko”
- Address: ul. Słoneczna 20, 01-100 Warszawa, Poland
- Website: sloneczko.pl
- Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Conclusion
The comparison of kindergartens in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Cyprus, Romania, and Poland shows that each country has its unique approaches and methods of education. Despite the differences, all of them strive to create a comfortable and nurturing environment for children, which is the foundation for successful preschool education. Parents, when choosing a kindergarten for their child, can pay attention to the features of each system to make the right choice according to their child’s needs and interests.