Why horizontal age groups at Kindergarden childcare?

Did you know that a baby plays and learns with its whole body in a childcare environment? Preferably in a calm environment? And that infants need to burn energy to develop strength and coordination? And toddlers? Yes, they mainly want to do everything by themselves. They learn to share through play and gradually start to understand their own responsibilities. In a nutshell: everything in every child’s world makes an impression – and everything also has influence. And that’s why our childcare locations use horizontal groups.

What are horizontal age groups?

Horizontal age groups are groups where children are divided based on their age and developmental stage. At Kindergarden, this means that babies, toddlers, and preschoolers each have their own separate groups. This allows us to tailor activities, setup, and guidance precisely to what they need at that moment. In this way, we create an environment that perfectly matches their needs and optimally supports their growth and development.

Same life phase

Our different group structures, enable us to keep children of the same age and developmental phase in one group.

Same daily routine

As the children are in the same life phase, it makes it easier for us to adhere to the same daily routine.

Responding to needs

This enables our childcare staff to respond better to children’s individual needs within one age group.

Location interior and activities

Our furniture, play equipment and daily activities are all aligned to the developmental phase of the children in the group.

Smaller groups

There are fewer children in a horizontal group than in a vertical group, while they have the same number of childcare staff.

All the conditions are in place to allow each child to develop optimally. Enriched learning spaces and sensitive staff. It's wonderful to see that our full attention is directed towards this every day.

Marjolein Pereira Gligo – den Otter

Pedagogical Coach

Our group structure

Each Kindergarden location has at least a baby, infant, and a toddler group, but often much more, depending on the size of the location. Where possible we also offer an older toddler group. Where this isn’t feasible, we organize specific activities tailored to the oldest toddlers.

Baby group

From two months to two years

Infant group

From one to three years

Toddler group

From two to four years

Older toddler group

From three to four years

Climbing (and pulling) up on the baby group

Zodra een baby kan kruipen hebben ze de neiging al te willen gaan klauteren en klimmen.
Climbing on the infant group

Toddlers have an enormous need to move. They can climb and slide to their heart's content.
Climbing on the (older) toddler group

Toddlers are developing and therefore also try to push their limits while climbing.
Playing at the older toddler group

Toddlers are playing together more and more and our shop is the perfect meeting place for this!
Playing at the toddler group

Imitation and fantasy often come together when the toddlers get to work in our kitchen corner
Playing at the baby group

A large, flat play mat so that your child can develop from the supine position.
Playing at the infant group

Always with its own climbing and clambering corner tailored to the development phase of a toddler