ESC: Volunteering in Kolde kindergarten (9-months)

Our organisation is Tallinn´s Kolde Kindergarten. It is a municipality kindergarten in Tallinn. It is located in a part of Tallinn named Pelgulinn, which is close to the city centre and to the beach. Our kindergarten is quite old. It was established already in 1929, but in this building on Timuti street it has been since 1954. In 2012-2013 the building was fully renovated. In this year the kindergarten will celebrate its 91th anniversary. Tallinn´s Kolde Kindergarten has 5 groups where pre-school education is given for children aged between 2 to 7 years. Every group has two teachers and one teacher assistant. We also have specialised teachers for music and sport activities. There are 11 teachers and 9 other employees in total. Working hours of the groups are from 7 am to 7 pm. Food is provided to children three times per day. After lunch is nap time. Every group has its own room where daily activities and educational lessons are carried out, such as games, art, music and sport activities. Weekly activities include: • observing and exploring • listening and speaking • reading and writing • comparing and calculating • visual arts (painting, modelling) • music • physical education All activities are planned and defined in kindergarten’s curriculum In addition, if interested, children can take singing and dancing lessons two times a week. Also, judo and football lessons are two times in a week. Our kindergarten has many different traditions. For example, in autumn we have a day when children, parents and teachers plant flowers and other plants, paint fences and benches etc. In autumn it is time to harvest and tidy up flowerbeds. In May, we usually we have a Family Day that is celebrated with different workshops, performances and with a picnic. During the year we have different exhibitions and shows in the kindergarten´s hall put together by children or their parents and teachers. Naturally we celebrate every important traditional national day of Estonia. We think it is very important to develop emotional and social qualities that are useful in children’s’ life (like self-control, empathy, love, friendliness and kindness), therefore we have joined the program "Free of Bullying" (http://kiusamisestvabaks.ee/about-us) and also carry out environmental education. From 07.06. 2019 Kolde Kindergarten is a member of the Health Promoting Kindergartens (https://www.terviseinfo.ee/et/tervise-edendamine/lasteaias/tervist-edendavate-lasteaedade-tel-vorgustik ) network.