Children’s Village in the center of Tallinn
Childhood Academy
Who we are
Academy of ChildhoodAcademy of Childhood is a unique private kindergarten with an original approach to working with children. It draws the best from Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, and Humanistic Pedagogy methods and is based on unleashing each child’s individuality.
The open, supportive, accepting and nurturing “Village of Childhood”. Here we grow, learn, think, explore the WORLD and OURSELVES.
We are located in the center of Tallinn. Come and get to know us, schedule a tour, or simply ask questions:
Happy childhood
We know how to make a child happy
Founded in 2009 by Jelena Parfjonova – child psychologist, educator with international experience and a person with a mission to help every child reveal and develop their potential – Academy of Childhood has welcomed 140 children and maintains contact with its alumni in different countries.
The special atmosphere of safety, openness, and cosiness, combined with sincere interest in each child, has allowed the Academy of Childhood to open its doors to children and parents who want to grow, develop, explore and reveal themselves and the world around them.
Our kindergarten includes a mixed-age group of 14 children and a group of 5 children (aged 5-7 y.o.) known as the ‘soft school’ for school preparation.
A Word from
Our Director
The idea of creating a child center that would be special began with a call from a wonderful mother, Natalia Petrukhina, who responded to my article about children and childhood. I was puzzled by the fact that everything in my article appealed to her needs and desires, she wondered why there was no such a place where she could bring her child. This was in 2009, and in the same year, in September, we opened our first group, where Natalia, as promised, brought several children, including her daughter.
Initially, we were called the Center for Adaptation, Correction and Development. It was tailored for children who required help in adaptation to a group and also for ‘homely’ children who needed to feel at home in a kindergarten and who felt anxious in large groups in regular kindergartens. Then other children joined us, including those with special needs, such as ASD and ADHD. We also took on the complex but very grateful mission of working with parents to help them learn to accept their children as they are and to be able to successfully communicate with them. Now we see positive dynamics and very good results in those families who listened to us.
One of our achievements we are very proud of is that in 2017 our center was taken as a model of a child center for children aged 3-5 y.o. in a joint project between the Institute of Education of Azerbaijan and the EU. Thanks to our three-year fruitful cooperation, around 50 centres were opened throughout Azerbaijan. We wrote programmes for them, trained childcare specialists and conducted monitoring. We were in the right place at the right time when there was a shortage of such programmes and centres to prepare preschoolers for school and to develop their communication skills in Azerbaijan. There have been opened nearly 1000 similar centres in the country so far, and the state preschool programme of Azerbaijan is based now on the methodology of the Childhood Academy.
We like to see children happy, and we do our best to make that happen. We look forward to meeting you.
Just call and visit us.
– Jelena Parfjonova
Interview with Jelena Parfjonova
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 Childhood Academy 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
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 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.
OUR STAFF
Who works for the Academy of Childhood?
- The educators at the Academy of Childhood are PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND UNDERSTAND CHILDREN.
- They are qualified professionals – 90% with higher education (in pedagogy, psychology, music pedagogy, etc.)
- They are qualified psychologists, speech therapists, specialists in somatic therapy and sensory integration.
- The ratio of educators is not less than 1 to 5 children.
This is a team that is always in touch with parents to support and nurture each child.
The educators at the Academy of Childhood continuously improve and upgrade their knowledge and apply them in the educational process with INTEREST and LOVE for children.
Staff in the Academy of Childhood
Teachers, educators, psychologists
Jelena Emeljanova
Master's Degree, higher school teacher, specialist in working with children with special needs, 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.”
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. It’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!”
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.”
Who are we and why us?
Our parents have the best answer:
Who is our daycare for?
For children
– who need to be SEEN and find it challenging to be in a mass state system,
– who require INDIVIDUAL APPROACH – whether in adaptation, attention, or nutrition,
– who are SENSITIVE and require extra attention and support from adults,
– including those with special developmental needs*
* Educators in the Academy of Childhood
have been professionally supporting children with developmental special needs since 2009. So far we’ve had 21 graduates with special needs. Work with these children is carried out by qualified professionals in collaboration with a rehabilitation center.
For parents who
– notice peculiarities of their child personality/behaviour and who are willing to find a supportive community for them.
– are interested in the psychological development of their children.
– are engaged in conscious parenting and ready for cooperation for the sake of well-being of their family and child.
Opinion of a parent: "The Academy of Childhood is like a second home. We feel
tremendous joy that we were able to be a part of this unique preschool. It’s a place that you want to visit even when your child has grown up. It’s a place that you want to visit even when your child has grown up. Nowhere else have we encountered such an attitude, both towards the children and the parents – the attention, care, support, and help. Children eagerly run to the preschool every morning! There are no occasional people here! Every teacher or nanny loves children and their work. The director and the founder of the preschool, Jelena Parfjonova, is like a mother to everyone. She strives to ensure that everyone feels well and happy in this unique space, always willing to listen, offer advice, provide recommendations, and arrange wonderful holidays, trips, performances, and invite amazing guests from different countries. She gives her heart to children! We are endlessly grateful to each educator who has spent time with our children, creating an atmosphere of a golden childhood as the foundation for their adult future life!”
Anya Shugay
For colleagues
The Academy of Childhood actively collaborates with a wide range of dedicated professionals engaged in individualised approach to support children’s development.
Feedback from an invited specialist: ""My name is Marina Novikova, and I am a practising clinical child psychotherapist certified
by the Russian-Austrian long-term training programme in child psychotherapy from the OKIDs Institute (Vienna) and the “Genesis” Institute (Moscow). Jelena Parfjonova, the head of the “Childhood Academy” kindergarten, is a graduate of this programme. 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!”
Come for a tour
Visit us, get to know us, ask questions. We are on the side of Childhood and Family. Call+372 5656 9060
Jelena Parfjonova
