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Pedagogical Approaches in the Kita – Montessori, Open Work and the Situational Approach

Pedagogical approaches in the Kita: Montessori, Reggio Emilia, the situational approach, open work, Fröbel and Waldorf explained clearly – in an online self-study course.

Online self-study course for early years practitioners, career changers and teams developing the pedagogical concept in day-care centres (Kitas) – 8 modules, approx. 8 hours, at your own pace, with a confirmation of participation after working through all modules. Sources in APA 7, legal status September 2026.

The modules:

Understanding pedagogical approaches: terms, image of the child, framework
Friedrich Fröbel: play, play gifts and the idea of the kindergarten
Montessori education: prepared environment and materials
The Reggio Emilia approach: a hundred languages, space and projects
The situational approach: life world and key situations
Open work: functional rooms, freedom of choice and the team
Waldorf, Freinet, infans and others: further approaches at a glance
Comparing and combining approaches and reflecting on your own stance

📘 Background reading (in German): Pedagogical approaches in the Kita at a glance

Self-study without supervision, assignments or evaluation of learning progress by instructors; the voluntary self-reflection is for your own orientation only. Your confirmation of participation becomes available once you have marked all modules as done yourself.

Learning objectives

What you will learn

You can distinguish the terms pedagogical approach, concept, pedagogical concept (Konzeption) and education plan (Bildungsplan) and assign each to its level.
You can place the origin of the kindergarten with Friedrich Fröbel correctly in time and place and explain the meaning of the term.
You can place the origin of Montessori education with the first Casa dei Bambini in its historical context.
You can place the origin and basic ideas of the Reggio Emilia approach in context and explain the underlying image of the child as a constructor of their own development.
You can describe the origins and basic idea of the situational approach (Situationsansatz) accurately and distinguish it from a subject-based teaching method.
You can describe open work (offene Arbeit) as a child-centred pedagogy and place its roots in a grassroots movement of the 1980s.
You can describe Waldorf education in terms of its origins, guiding principles and worldview foundation, and place it critically in context.
You can compare the approaches covered in the course systematically, using five comparison dimensions.

Self-study at your own pace
Confirmation of participation after working through all modules

Course access

Included in the e-learning flat rate

One year of access to all self-study courses of the online academy – at your own pace, with a confirmation of participation after working through all modules.

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Pedagogical Approaches in the Kita – Montessori, Open Work and the Situational Approach

What you will learn

Included in the e-learning flat rate

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