Kindergarten

A kindergarten ( listen ; from German German pronunciation:[ˈkɪndɐˌɡaːɐ̯tn̩], which means literally "garden for the children", (the term was coined in the metaphorical sense of "place where children can grow in a natural way", not in the literal sense of having a "garden")) is a preschool educational 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 eighteenth century in Bavaria and Strasbourg to serve children both of whose parents worked out of the home. The term was coined by the German Friedrich Fröbel ( listen ) whose approach greatly influenced early-years education around the world. Today, the term is used in many countries to describe a variety of educational institutions and learning spaces for children ranging from two to seven years of age, based on a variety of teaching methods.