EXTENSION OF KINDERGARTEN WORK IN CITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26853, 18 August 1948, Page 4

EXTENSION OF KINDERGARTEN WORK IN CITY

Each of the seven free kindergartens in Dunedin, as well as the pre-school educational centre at the Truby KingHarris Hospital, are now providing afternoon play centres on two days a week in addition to the morning kindergarten. The children attending the play centres are admitted from the kindergarten waiting list, and the additional facilities have been provided as a result of the Government’s assistance to the kindergartens in accepting the responsibility for the salaries of the staffs. The principal of the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association, Miss E. F. Hamilton, told the Daily Times yesterday that the importance of the early formative years of children of kindergarten age, from two to five years, was now becoming widely recognised, and the Government recently had considered it advisable to gather the opinions of experts in this field. It planned to give further assistance to the voluntary organisation of the free kindergarten associations. She added that the Government had increased the scale of salaries of kindergarten workers, and the acting Director of Education had stated that a subsidy of £2 for £1 would be given

to centres which raised money for new buildings and the purchase of the additional educational equipment which had formerly been supplied by the kindergartens. Miss Hamilton said that this was a great encouragement and incentive to committees which were maintaining kindergartens in temporary buildings, and it was almost certain that the efforts of parents and the committees would eventually result in the provision of buildings specially equipped and built for children of kindergarten age. Miss Hamilton said that the programme planned for children attending play centres was similar to that provided at morning kindergartens, and included indoor and outdoor play periods, guidance in the formation of sound health habits and those of independence, guidance in sharing play materials and experiences, and music study. The use of play centres had enabled the kindergartens to extend their services within the past three months to nearly 200 children other than those who attended morning kindergartens. This number was being increased as the scheme developed. The principal said that it was the policy of the association to incorporate parent participation in the activities of the new play centre. It was felt that

parents had much to give this work, and it was only by the parent- and the teacher keeping in close touch that children would benefit fully from kindergartens or play centres. They must understand one another's point of view and bring unity to the guidance of the young child. Mothers worked with staff members and saw the methods used, and parents invited staff mem-