Approaches and Theories of Pedagogy in Kindergarten Education Dr. Radhika Kapur Abstract

Approaches of the Pedagogical Methods
In the area of nursery school education, there have been four main approaches of the pedagogical methods: (Curricula
and Pedagogies, 2004).

1. 
   Experiential Education – In this case, there is effective learning through well being and involvement. In this kind of education, the approach is to make a near step by step description of what it means to a small child to be and participate in an educational institution. There has to be quality in the system of education. The term quality is associated with most of the things such as teaching methodology, contents, materials, procedures and systems and also reckoning whether the desirable objectives are being achieved.
   
2. 
   Children are involved into various kinds of activities in their schools. Some of the things and experiences for young children are classified into main categories, which are creative representation, drawing, painting, art, craft, handicrafts and role plays. Language and literacy includes reading, writing, listening and talking; children are taught all the relevant communication skills and initiative and social relations such as playing, laughing, being sensitive and nice. Movement and musical skills are also essential to develop in a child to enhance his personality. Logical reasoning such as finding out the similarities, differences, comparisons, arrangements, interpreting time intervals, ordering, and description of sequences are the concepts that are taught to the children.
   
3. 
   The Reggio Emilia Approach – This approach is dedicated to the development of such an environment that might help the child learn and enhance his abilities to study. The child learns to develop thinking relationships between ideas, environment, people, and tries to understand the world around them. In this approach, emphasis is laid upon communicating and listening to young children. The study material is prepared and based upon experiences, speech and interests of the children. It is extremely essential for the child to socialize and work in a team; this necessarily contributes to the advancement of cognitive development. Dialogue, comparisons, criticisms, negotiating, problem solving and hypothesizing are some of the activities that are done through team work.
   
4. 
   Te Whariki – A woven mat for all to stand on. This metaphor is associated with the spider web kind of curriculum for the children. The subject of nursery school education was progressing in itself relating with the promotion of values such as diversity, equity, and biculturalism. It also included training and reimbursement of the staff members who are employed in nursery schools. This metaphor “Te Whariki” is associated with the involvement of many individuals and fields in the area of nursery school education such as parents, teachers, staff, caretakers, managers, directors, head mistress, franchise and so forth. The pedagogical methods should reflect upon the holistic development of children, empowering the child, strengthening of the bonds with the family and community and understanding the meaning of responsive and reciprocal relationships (Curricula and Pedagogies, 2004).
   

When learning and acquiring knowledge about the pedagogical methods within the nursery schools, it is vital to take into account the relevant theories. It has been understood that these theories have analyzed the main objective behind a young child’s learning and the main questions that have been answered through these theories are what and how can the young individuals develop and grow. These theories are stated as follows: (Cherry, 2012).