We all lose if kindys close

nine years of underfunding from the previous government, including cuts to the per-child rate of funding, there were hopes the new Labour-led government would match their rhetoric in the Budget this year.

However, there was only a 1.6 per cent increase in early childhood education centre universal funding – less than the rate of inflation.

So, what makes kindergartens different and why is it important that we preserve these community assets? As a parent, you want your child to be well prepared for starting school. One of the biggest selling points for kindergartens is their teaching staff. Traditionally, 100 per cent of kindergarten teachers had to be qualified and registered. This meant holding a teaching and learning degree. This is still the case in most kindergartens around New Zealand.

Kindergartens have been around a long time. The first one was opened about 180 years ago by German educationalist Friedrich Froebel. Froebel’s approach was based on free play, games, songs, stories and crafts to stimulate imagination while also developing physical and motor skills in children. A key feature is ‘‘selfactivity’’, with a child led by his or her own interests and allowed to explore them freely. The English translation of the German word ‘‘kindergarten’’ is ‘‘garden of children’’.

Our kindergarten is not as old as Froebel’s but has still been open for more than 100 years. I’ve bumped into many adults who went to Fairleigh Kindergarten. Some of the families are now into their third generation of attendees. People have made life-long friends. It’s a community asset and a source of many happy memories to the more than 4000 students.

Kindergartens help foster community spirit. In addition to my son making friends, my wife and I have made friends too. Rather than dropping the kids off and heading straight out the door, parents tend to hang around to play with their children or chat. From speaking to other parents, I understand the kindergarten environment is more social than at some other childcare centres.

If you are a parent with children aged 2 to 4, please think about giving your local community kindergarten a try. It will help set up your child well for school, you will probably make new friends and you will do your part breathing new life into a much-loved, long-time community asset and institution.

IAIN McGREGOR/STUFF Hadley McLachlan pictured with his children, George, 5, and Lucy, 2, at Fairleigh Kindergarten. He says many kindergartens rely on grants, donations and events to raise money for resources and operational costs.