Children's Village in the center of Tallinn
Academy of ChildhoodChildren’s Village in the centre of Tallinn
Childhood Academy
The Academy of Childhood is a unique private kindergarten in Tallinn. This is a Village of Childhood, where a child can have a happy childhood which will be a true support in their adult life in the Open World.
Visit us for acquaintance:
The Academy of Childhood is a unique private kindergarten in Tallinn. This is a Village of Childhood, where a child can have a happy childhood which will be a true support in their adult life in the Open World.
Visit us for acquaintance:
You can peacefully do your job, as your child:
- is in a safe environment
- develops among children of different ages
- follows a daily schedule, favourable to healthy lifestyle (meals, rest, outdoor walks in a quiet residential area, social interaction, developmental activities, games, and more)
- is under the care of professional caregivers (with no fewer than 1 teacher for every 5 children)
Approach to children at the Academy of Childhood
Individual approach in EVERYTHING. Every Child has the right to be Seen, Heard, Understood and Accepted.
A special pedagogical approach of the Academy of Childhood is based on recognized methods of individual support of children:
- Montessori
- Humanistic pedagogy
- Waldorf pedagogy
- Reggio approach
What is covered by child support approach:
Individual approach
Educators take into account a child’s personality and character, they carry out diagnostics and communicate with the child and their family to reveal the child’s talents.
Play-based approach
At the Academy of Childhood, children are offered a wide range of play activities from sensory integration, general physical fitness, spontaneous child’s play to board games.
Exploration of real life, community and the world around
Children take part in organising life and space within the home of the Childhood Academy – they participate in preparing the house and garden for their games, create their own playing areas and look after the garden.
Not sure which daycare center to choose?
Are you struggling with the following questions?
At the Academy of Childhood your child will find:
- What will be the attitude toward my child? Will he/she be left alone in a corner?
- Will I be worried and torn between work and the kindergarten?
- Will the child make friends with anyone? Will he be able to socialize?
- He/she is so hard to engage in any activity. Will they be interested there? Will they discover an activity to enjoy?
- My child doesn’t eat much.. what about the meals there?
- My child has their own diet, with allergies to certain foods. Will they be able to provide a suitable menu for him/her?
- Will they be able to take my child to a concert/theatre/excursion/trip, or just for a walk?
- Will they discover my child’s talents? and other questions
- PARTNERSHIP – support in child development
- EMOTIONAL STABILITY – the child learns to deal with their emotions and to experience them.
- DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE SKILLS – living in a group, coping with stress, learning to help and ask for help.
- DEVELOPMENT OF THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHOICES – making decisions, considering what they result in, accepting the outcomes and making choices again.
- DEVELOPING AN INTEREST FOR THE VAST AND OPEN WORLD – at the Academy of Childhood there are different children and adults, and each child learns to be a part of the community and interact with it.
- DEVELOPMENT OF INITIATIVE AND INDEPENDENCE – through games and practical life in a real house with a garden.
- DEVELOPMENT OS SELF-ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD – a child understands and feels that they are accepted and valued in the World.
- INDIVIDUAL APPROACH regarding a child’s diet, daily routine, support and more. Development of a child’s creative skills and analytical abilities.
- Development of creative and analytical abilities of the child
- Unleashing a child’s talents (and we believe that every child possesses them!)
Childhood Academy
Our Mission:
“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”
Milton H. Erickson
Here everyone can immerse themselves in their own childhood. Anyone will find activities to enjoy in a warm, friendly and family-like atmosphere. They can develop and demonstrate their strengths and make friends. A child will feel to be an important part of the community, someone who is needed, appreciated, loved and respected. Moreover, adults can reconnect with their Inner Child and make friends with It.
We warmly welcome those who are ready either to learn from us, or share their professional experience, but most importantly, those who love children.
Our focus areas:
We offer various focus areas for development for children, young people, educators, childcare specialists, teachers and parents. There are no limits for improving mutual understanding! Learn more →
Musical kindergarten
Our child centre is the first one in Estonia to introduce musical instruments in the yard. This way we helped a pilot project muusikaaed to start.
Correction
For children who need correction we organise small groups. Read more →
Our workshops
We offer workshops for colleagues: educators, teachers, psychologists, childcare experts, specialists working with children, including those with special needs, caregivers, interns, and volunteers. →
World and us (international cooperation):
Since 2006 the Childhood Academy has been actively participating in international youth and professional projects, such as the ERASMUS+ programme. Over the past years we have hosted volunteers from many countries, including Estonia, and several psychology students from Bologna University completed their internships with us.
From 2018 to 2020 the Academy of Childhood was the principal partner in a programme of Azerbaijan Institute of Education aimed at creating Education and Socialisation Centres for children aged 3-5 y.o.
The Academy of Childhood maintains ongoing partnerships and collaborates with organisations from Finland, Latvia, Italy, Azerbaijan, Germany, Switzerland and others. →
Parent groups
Right after the birth and/or arrival of children the family life changes, and even the most responsible parent is not always fully prepared for all the events. A parent group can become an excellent support on the path to conscious parenting.
One of the main goals of the group is to bring together like-minded individuals for the exchange of their experiences and the acquisition of new knowledge and methods from the professionals of the Academy. →
Our parents speak:
“Academy of Childhood is a safe place for a child, where they will be understood, accepted, supported, and educated! This is where children open up and feel comfortable!
The teachers offer interesting and diverse activities, both creative and active, in any season throughout the year. Outdoor walks are always fun and educational. There are trips to the theatre, concerts, and I especially like the family outings and parties!
The Academy has mixed-age groups where elder children help younger ones, and younger children look up to elder ones. The atmosphere is very cozy and warm-hearted! There are additional activities available for older children.
The preschool operates year-round and doesn’t close during summer.
The administration is always ready to listen and respond to any questions or problems, and everything is resolved without conflicts. The atmosphere is really friendly!
When you come here, it feels like home!
I highly recommend this preschool for children!”
Olesja Goltsman
“Wonderful kindergarten!
My son has been attending it for 1.5 years and is always eager to go; he’s even willing to wake up early for it!
The teachers are calm and kind to the children. Importantly, there are many of them, and they’re all fantastic, so a child can choose their favourite 🙂
The preschool employs people with psychological education, which is why the children are calm. Somehow the teachers manage to preserve the children’s fairy-tale perception of the world, protect their childhood, cultivate goodness and empathy in them, encourage independence and foster a desire for creativity. The group is mixed-age and sometimes even multilingual, so at first the little ones look up to the older children and then, as they grow up, they learn to help the younger ones.“
Anya Shugay
“This is one of the best – if not the best daycare center in Estonia. A professional team of educators. Children are constantly engaged in interesting activities. There are additional developmental classes available in the preschool. It’s an atmosphere of one big family. Our child had a very tough time in a regular kindergarten but felt really good here. Jelena and the whole team are doing a great job.
It is one of the best child care establishments – it’s not just a kindergarten; It’s a second family! Cosy, reliable, caring, where every person is in the right place. Genuine human relationships and value of each individual are top priorities. We hug and love you, Academy of Childhood!
For my little girl and me this kindergarten turned out to be a lifesaver. Help and advice from the entire team of educators in a non-intrusive manner, sensitive care, love, and growth. These are the words that come to mind. I am grateful for the circumstances that brought us to the Academy of Childhood.”
Aleksandra Tolmatch
“I could not expect a better place for my son’s (who was 2 y.o.) adaptation process. He didn’t speak any language, so together with the founder of this Akademia Detstva kindergarten (Academy of Childhood) – Jelena – and the teachers we decided to try English, but the little guy was so eager to communicate that after one year he started speaking both: his native and Russian languages!
So as soon as as a teacher noticed that the boy understands everything (after 2-3 months) what is said in Russian, we decided not to mix more languages. Russian – in the kindergarten, Lithuanian – at home, English – from cartoons. And it worked! Later the second child joined the kindergarten, feeling much more confident as his brother was around surrounded by loving teachers.
Every child matters, every emotion is discussed, that was the biggest gift for me as a parent and a “soothing pill” for being calm leaving the children there.
Akademia detstva is unique by its policy of accepting every child, with disabilities, syndromes etc. So everybody learns to be in a group, learns by playing, singing, having fun in an amazing sports room, having fun in an inner yard full of toys, vehicles, even gardening equipment is there.
All in all, I strongly recommend this kindergarten and sincerely would like to pack it in my suitcase and take together to my country.”
Egle D.
Feedback from educators and psychologists:
Marina Novikova
Psychotherapist
“My name is Marina Novikova, and I am a practising clinical child psychotherapist certified by the Russian-Austrian long-term training program in child psychotherapy from the OKIDs Institute (Vienna) and the “Genesis” Institute (Moscow). Jelena Parfjonova, the head of the “Academy of Childhood” kindergarten, is a graduate of this program.
At Jelena’s invitation I visited Tallinn about a year ago and had the opportunity to observe children’s life during their stay in daytime groups for several days. At Jelena’s initiative, a meeting was organised with parents interested to discuss and answer their questions related to child development and the peculiarities of interaction with children in families.
In my opinion, the most important aspect that the kindergarten is sure to care about is providing a secure, protected, and safe environment for children’s development, filled with warm-hearted and loving adults. The house space, the dining area, and the play area – everything is filled with love and care for children. Children with special needs also attend the kindergarten, and I have seen how this warm environment is created for them with great care and attention, tailored to their individual needs. Smiling and curious children, attentive and interested parents and specialists, I am grateful to all of you for this wonderful encounter!”
Oksana Erokhina
A professional nanny and our beloved Chef, 5 years of work experience in the Academy of Childhood
“The Academy has been an eye-opener for me. t’s a friendly, calm, and cosy environment for children where every child can be themselves. Each child is approached individually, and their uniqueness, character, and specific traits are taken into account. Learning and comprehensive development happen in a playful manner, with creative workshops, outings, and excursions. It’s great to be able to run in the rain, splash in puddles, dig holes in the yard, search for worms, build a ‘well of wishes,’ run barefoot on the grass, and just have fun with the adults! One of the significant advantages is that volunteers come to participate, and it’s a fantastic experience both for them and the children. I found it interesting that the group is diverse-aged, which is great because we’re like one big family! We learn something new from each other every day. The Academy is an atmosphere of love, joy and Childhood!”
Jelena Emeljanova
A high school teacher, Master’s Degree, a specialist in working with children with special needs, a professional nanny. 9 years of work in the Academy of Childhood.
“The Academy of Childhood in my own life is my life: my thoughts, my actions, my plans and their implementation, my joys and sorrows, my interests and development, and even my health.”
Irina Zigura
Teacher, psychologist, speech therapist, specialist in body-oriented approach. 14 years of work experience in the Academy of Childhood.
“For me, the Academy of Childhood is a place where I can be myself and apply all my skills and abilities. Children are my Teachers, and Parents are my Allies.”
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pupils since foundation
workshops held
people in personnel now
years since foundation
Our contacts
Location: Püü 7/1, 11311 Tallinn