在漫長的學習旅程開始前，我們為孩子準備了什麼？
Before a lifelong learning journey begins, what are we truly preparing children for?
4月21日是世界幼兒園日（World Kindergarten Day），我們在這一天紀念 Friedrich Froebel（敲弗里德里希·福祿貝爾 ），他在1837年創立了第一所幼兒園。
「Kindergarten」這個詞來自德文：kinder（孩子）+ garten（花園），也就是「孩子的花園」。
在與家長的交流中，我常分享，我認為幼教工作者最重要的角色，其實很單純，就是培養孩子對學習的熱愛。
在著名 TED 演講 Do Schools Kill Creativity?《學校教育扼殺創意嗎？》中，Sir Ken Robinson（肯尼•羅賓森爵士）提醒我們，孩子天生就充滿好奇。他們渴望探索、提問，想理解這個世界。但在成長過程中，當教育變得越來越制度化，評量方式更像工廠流水線，而不是對待一個活潑、有個性、有生命力的孩子時，這份好奇心往往就慢慢被消磨了。
在天堂鳥文教機構，我們為什麼這麼重視保護孩子的好奇心？因為，好奇心就是學習的起點。當孩子真的想知道「為什麼」，他們會不斷思考、嘗試、解決問題，甚至帶著一點「執著」地追尋答案。相信多數家長都曾被三歲孩子連環「為什麼、為什麼、為什麼」問到說不出話來吧？
這就是內在動機。一旦失去了，是非常難再培養回來的。
有一件事我們不一定常說，但其實很重要。離開幼兒園之後，孩子還有至少12到16年的求學歷程在前方，而且未必都像幼兒園這樣自然、快樂、充滿遊戲。如果孩子在一開始就對學習失去興趣，那之後維持他們學習動力的責任，就會完全落在大人身上，這對任何人來說都不容易。
也因此，在幼兒園階段，我始終相信我們其實只有一個核心任務，就是讓孩子每天早上願意、期待，甚至帶著興奮地來上學。我們正在為他們建立一種學習的心態與習慣，現在所累積的一切，會一路跟著他們走下去。
那這是不是代表學校應該永遠都很「好玩」呢？其實不然。學習本來就不輕鬆，理解新的概念需要時間，也會讓人感到疲憊。連我們大人都會在「別人都懂了，但我還不懂」的時候感到挫折，更何況是還在發展情緒能力的孩子。
正因如此，身為老師與行政團隊，我們更重視孩子的學習歷程。我們在學習過程中運用鷹架式引導，在適當的時機提供足夠的支持與協助，讓孩子不會感到孤單，同時也保留足夠的空間，讓他們能夠自己探索與解決問題。透過這樣的過程，孩子才能真正建立自信，學會一件很重要的事：你是有能力的。
這也是為什麼今天這個日子值得被紀念。
當我們說「幼兒園日快樂」，我們不只是慶祝一個教育階段，而是在珍惜一種學習態度的起點，一種心態的開始。
正如 Maria Montessori（瑪麗亞·蒙特梭利）所說，環境是孩子的第三位老師。因此，在世界幼兒園日這一天，我們也一起感謝這樣的環境，感謝用心營造它的人，以及在其中成長的每一位孩子。
如果您有時間，也很推薦看看 Do Schools Kill Creativity?《學校教育扼殺創意嗎？》這段經典演講（有中文字幕）： https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVGKAIS7Q4g
祝大家 世界幼兒園日快樂 Happy World Kindergarten Day！
溫暖的祝福，
Miss Tiffany
April 21st is World Kindergarten Day, a day that honors Friedrich Froebel, the founder of the first kindergarten in 1837. The word itself is German: kinder (children) + garten (garden). A garden for children.
In conversations with parents, I often share what I believe to be our most important role as preschool educators: to instill a love of learning in children.
In his famous TEDTalk, Do Schools Kill Creativity?, Sir Ken Robinson reminds us that children are naturally curious. They want to explore, to ask questions, to understand the world around them. But somewhere along the way, as education becomes more systematic and children are assessed in a way more suitable for a factory line than for living, playful, unique beings, that curiosity often starts to fade.
At Tanni, why do we believe it’s so important to protect children’s curiosity? Because curiosity is the foundation of learning! When children truly want to know why, they will puzzle over it, problem solve for it, and persevere to get the answer they demand – almost obsessively. Who of us hasn’t been stumped by a three-year old’s “Why, why, why?’
That is intrinsic motivation. And it’s extraordinarily hard to manufacture in a child who has lost it.
Here’s the thing we don’t always say out loud… after preschool, our children have at least 12 to 16 more years of school ahead of them. And not all of it will feel as natural, joyful, or playful, as learning in preschool. If we send them into that journey already switched off and uninterested, then the burden of keeping them engaged falls entirely on the adults around them. That’s a hard road for everyone.
This is why, at the preschool level, I believe we have one job: make sure children wake up each morning willing, expectant, even excited to come to school! We are laying the foundation of their entire learning identity. What we build here, they carry forward.
Does this mean school should be fun all the time? Honestly, no. How can it be? Learning is hard. Grappling with new concepts is tiring. As adults, we know how frustrating it can feel when we see others around us succeeding while we ‘still don’t get it’. Imagine how that might feel as a child who is still developing their emotional maturity!
Knowing this, as teachers and administrative staff, we respect the journey our children are on. We scaffold their learning, offering enough support so they don’t feel alone, while leaving enough space so they can figure things out themselves. This process helps children build confidence in themselves, teaching the most important lesson – you are capable.
This is why today matters.
When we say “Happy Kindergarten Day!”, we are not just celebrating a stage of education. We are championing the beginning of a healthy learning mindset.
As Maria Montessori reminds us, the environment is the child’s third teacher. So today, on World Kindergarten Day, we celebrate that environment: the space, the people who nurture it, and the children who journey in it.
If you have time, I highly recommend watching this classic TED Talk, Do Schools Kill Creativity?: https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity
Happy World Kindergarten Day!
With love,
Miss Tiffany
