Each recognized the important relationship of activity to learning. Froebel believed in children's potential for good and the need to provide a place in which children could be nurtured and developed through experiences with the natural environment and caring people. He believed true education originated in activity an d that play was an essential part of the education process. Dewey emphasized, among other things, the importance of the social context in a child's developing understanding of self in relation to others. Piaget has helped us to understand how learning takes place through problem-solving and how teachers may be able to facilitate that learning.
Children go through stages of development as they come to understand and to know.
These stages are intended to serve as general guidelines and not as fixed boundaries. It is crucial to build upon not only students' abilities, but also upon their interests, experiences and background knowledge. Therefore, rather than expecting children to be ready for school, scho ols must be prepared to meet the varying needs of children as they enter school. A Kindergarten program based on this philosophy needs to be a balanced one, providing opportunities for individuals to develop'in each of the physical, socio-emotional and intellectual areas. The neglect of one area jeopardizes achievement in others.