“NATIONAL KINDERGARTEN DAY” | Grandma’s Stories

Apr 21st “NATIONAL KINDERGARTEN DAY”

Each year on April 21st, National Kindergarten Day honors the birthday of the man who started the first Kindergarten. Friedrich Wilhelm August Frobel (April 21, 1782 – June 21, 1852) is credited with starting the very first Kindergarten in Germany in 1837. Frobel was a German teacher and a student of Johann Pestalozzi. Frobel laid a foundation for modern education, recognizing that children learn through play and experience.

The first kindergarten (which means garden for the children) was developed in Blankenburg, Germany, in 1837. The kindergarten fostered Frobel’s social experience for children. It allowed them to smoothly transition from home to school.

Eventually, the Prussian government banned Frobel’s unorthodox methods. However, the rest of the world was eager to accept Frobel’s idea of kindergarten, including the United States.

In 1856, Watertown, Wisconsin, opened the first kindergarten in the United States. Founded by Margarethe Schurz, this kindergarten was a German-language class, as were many in this region. Kindergarten found its way into private English-speaking institutions across the country. However, it wasn’t until 1873 that it became part of any public school system.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalKindergartenDay

National Kindergarten Day offers an opportunity to thank a kindergarten teacher you know. There are several ways to celebrate the day, too!

Recognize an outstanding kindergarten teacher.
Explore a career in elementary education, specifically as a kindergarten teacher.
Learn more about elementary education.
Donate to a teacher’s supply fund.
Share your experiences as a kindergarten teacher.
Invite families to see how today’s students learn.
Spend a day in a classroom.

You can also visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for projects and ideas to help you Celebrate Every Day.

Share your kindergarten memories using #NationalKindergartenDay on Social Media.

NATIONAL KINDERGARTEN DAY HISTORY

National Kindergarten Day honors the day Friedrich Wilhelm August Frobel was born on April 21, 1782. However, we were unable to identify the founder of National Kindergarten Day.