Children of different ages learn from each other

At Zvonček, children of different ages share the group, from the youngest in nursery (1.5 yrs) to preschoolers (5–6 yrs), with the same teachers across years.

1 : 4

Staff-to-child ratio in the group.

Roughly half the group is between 1.5 and 2.5 years old, the other half between 3 and 5. Whoever enrolls has playmates their own age plus older siblings to learn from by watching.

Older lead, younger learn

Younger children imitate and learn by watching older ones: language, self-care, play. Older children deepen their own knowledge by passing it on. A child learns most when guided by someone just slightly ahead of them (zone of proximal developmentVygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society.).

Language and communication

Younger children pick up vocabulary faster by listening to older peers.
Older children practice clarity by explaining things to the younger ones.
The one who teaches learns the most (protégé effect).

Empathy in practice (caring for the younger)

Older children in the group develop a deep, almost sibling-like attachment to the youngest. They approach them on their own, hold their hand on the way outside, share toys, comfort the ones who cry. In caring for the younger ones, they practice recognising that another person feels something different (theory of mind), and the younger ones gain trust that the world is a safe space.

Less pressure, more cooperation

There's no "average" the child has to fit into and no comparison of who's faster at what. Older children naturally take the role of mentor, not competitor. The focus shifts to personal progress and the joy of discovery.

Stable relationships across years

Children stay in the same group with the same teachers for years. No stressful annual transitions to new rooms and new collectives. The continuity of relationships is the foundation of security.

Like a family

A vertical group more naturally mirrors family dynamics, where siblings of different ages grow up alongside each other. Many children who don't have siblings at home find them here.