General Information

Working garden

Our working garden was co-designed, set up and run for many years by Barbara, who holds a university degree in Biology, is a passionate gardener, a trained Montessori teacher and a part of our family – the ideal combination for such a task!

In our working garden we aim to give our children hands-on experience with nature, so that they learn to understand and care for our world. It is open every day during the morning work period, no matter the weather, and there is an additional teacher outdoors who guides them in these outdoor tasks.

Our working garden includes:

• A herb spiral – through this the children learn the smells, look, feel and taste of a variety of herbs.
• High beds for growing various vegetables and fruits
• A compost heap
• Berry bushes
• Fruit trees
• A large rabbit enclosure; large enough for a couple of children to enter and quietly sit and observe the rabbits after having fed them.
• Natural open-ended play materials
• Arts and crafts area

The tasks that the children take on in our working garden include:

• Planting seeds and watching them grow
• Watering plants
• Weeding the high beds and herb spiral
• Harvesting fruits, vegetables and herbs, which are eaten fresh or used for cooking and baking
• Raking leaves
• Pruning bushes
• Pushing the wheelbarrows – moving earth, logs and other heavy objects
• Feeding the rabbits and/or guinea pigs
• Putting bird food out for the local wild birds (and squirrels!)

Through working to take care of the plants and animals, by doing craft activities inspired by nature and by simply being outdoors, the children have a positive experience with the environment, they become calmer and develop a stronger bond to their natural surroundings. They also learn first-hand about the life cycle of plants and the effect of the seasons. The children are shown how to care for the outdoor environment and enjoy all it has to offer whatever the weather and learn how important it is for us all to treat our world with respect.

Play garden

In our large play garden (approximately 1000m²) we have several opportunities for gross motor movement such as:

• Nest swing
• Slide
• Climbing structures
• Balancing ropes
• Assortment of vehicles (e.g. tricycles, balance bikes)
• Footballs and football goals
• Large sandpit
• Play house

Our children spend at least 1-2 hours outdoors in the play garden every day, no matter the weather. For this reason, all children must have appropriate outdoor clothing at the kindergarten at all times (e.g. snowsuit, waterproof gloves, hat, scarf and snow boots in winter), as having the appropriate clothing is essential for enjoying all types of weather outdoors. We believe that being out in the fresh air, with plenty of space to move and run about is very important for their healthy development – physical, social and emotional, and we have observed the joy it brings to them to experience the outdoors in all kinds of weather. For example, many children love stamping and jumping in puddles or playing with mud when it’s raining.

Outings

• Nature

We regularly go on outings with our children, to learn more about their surroundings and experience nature and culture. We plan outings to the Donaupark, which is a large park within walking distance of our kindergarten, in every season so that the children can observe the changes that take place due to the different seasons.

We also visit the Lobau, Kahlenberg and other parks and woods occasionally – these outings are always a highlight, because there is even more wild nature to explore.

• Cultural

We also want the children to experience cultural events and regularly organize outings to classical concerts and museums or make the most of our plethora of musical parents and teachers who introduce the children to a variety of instruments and dances.

Farm Trip

An absolute highlight for our Red group children is a 3-night trip to a farm, which takes place in May/June of their last kindergarten year. This is an overnight trip without parents – for some children their first time sleeping away from their parents, and an important step in the development of their independence and self-confidence. Apart from having a great time with their friends and kindergarten teachers, the children spend a lot of time outdoors, going for hikes, playing in streams, building dams, observing a range of wild animals such as salamanders, butterflies, snails, slugs and so on, spending time with the cows, chickens, ponies and other animals at the farm, playing at the large outdoor playground which includes exciting activities such as go-karts, a toboggan run, and many climbing structures, and singing around a bonfire.