Children in Seiersberg-Pirka: Democracy education from the start!

Children in Seiersberg-Pirka: Democracy education from the start!

In the municipality of Seiersberg-Pirka, things are really exciting! A new project to promote democracy in kindergarten is launched. The Kindergarten Spenglergasse works closely with the department Participation.st . The children should not only become passive spectators, but also active participants in their everyday life. Thanks to the participative educational approach, you can already bring your ideas and wishes and thus learn how participation works.

But what exactly is behind this concept? The department has been active for over a decade and supports educational teams in anchoring participation in early childhood. The kindergarten has already inspired not only the teachers, but also the little ones themselves, through numerous workshops. The children can put their concerns in regular children's conferences. It is gratifying to see that projects such as the "Little Red Riding Hood cinema" or conversations about "sloths" and "pirate ships" have fruits. These creative initiatives are even written down and filmed!

children as decision -makers

A crucial aspect of this project is the documentation of the children's wishes. These are recorded on a magnetic board in the group room, which not only strengthens the self -awareness of the children, but also gives them the feeling of being taken seriously. Kindergarten director Barbara Sommer emphasizes how important listening is for participation. "We want the children to learn their own voice in this process," said Sommer.

The project manager Katrin Uray-Preininger emphasizes that this is an intensive process in which the team is very involved. The aim is not only to offer children a space for their opinions, but also to show how democracy can be lived in everyday life. These approaches are in line with the recommendations provided by various educational institutions. There are materials for participation and democracy education that show how children can be included in decision -making processes. The BildungsServer , for example, indicates how important children's rights and participation in early childhood education are.

The meaning of early childhood democracy education

The entire concept supports the idea that democracy education begins in the daycare center. As described in a recent research project from German Youth Institute , the active participation of the children in their educational process is crucial for their development into fashionable citizens. It is important that the educational institutions not only convey knowledge, but also promote social and democratic skills in everyday life.