The Invention of Kindergarten

The Invention of Kindergarten

by Dagmar Wittmers | SWR | 2026

 
What should the ideal kindergarten look like? Do children need discipline and early education—or play, curiosity and the opportunity to shape their own learning? Can concepts that are more than a hundred years old still be considered “modern” in the digital age?
An intriguing journey of discovery, from early childcare institutions to the progressive educational ideas of Maria Montessori and Pauline Kergomard, whose approaches continue to shape our understanding of early childhood education today.
The film tells the surprisingly topical story of kindergarten as a reflection of society’s expectations.