Life-derived learning play-inspired pedagogy (LDL) is being developed in Dorothy Snot preschools & kindergartens since 2013. Over the years, has proved to be a powerful philosophy connecting learning into actual world situations & activities and raising happy, strong & independent kids.

LDLis more than a set of principles. It is a commitment to creating an environment where learning is organic, meaningful, and deeply connected to the real world. It’s a call to recognize and honor the incredible potential within every child and to create a community of learners that thrives on respect, trust, responsibility, collaboration and shared growth through play.

The main principles of Life-derived learning

1.Children have the right to be accountable for their own life, from as early as possible.

2.We adults commit to:

• Respect children’ needs
• Trust their capability of self-acting
• Provide the necessary freedom to act.
• Allow children to assume responsibility for their actions.
• Use freely chosen, non-directed play as the main education element.

3. Children have the right to choose their play.

4. Children have the right to own as much as possible of their school life & make their own decisions.

5. School’s obligation is to set a solid operating framework. Children on the other hand have a major saying in the establishment of this framework, by setting their own rules through democratic procedures.

6. Children are allowed and encouraged to play in real life conditions and discover world through their play. Normal risk-taking and experimenting are well encouraged. Children are allowed and encouraged to bring in class any real-world deriving issue.

7. Teachers are not in class to teach. Teachers are in class to assist children in their explorations and provide them with ideas and stimuli.

8. The will of the majority is always respected. On the other hand, no one may force minority to participate in a project or an activity decided by the majority of the class. There are always play alternatives for those who disagree.

9. Children are well allowed to enter into arguing and disputable situations during their class life. This is done on purpose, to allow them to recognize the problems and then set their own rules to solve them. Teachers in general do not intervene in a dispute but discuss in class afterwards and through open-ended questions enforce children to express themselves, describe the problem and form a solution.

10. Children are encouraged to express their feelings and discuss them openly in class.

11. Parent’s involvement in school life is well encouraged, both on scheduled and on ad-hoc basis. School is utilizing parents’ skills and ideas to enrich daily the experiences of children, while moms & dads improve their parenting skills by closely following school’s life.

Life-derived learning pedagogy is a concept fully owned & developed by the DS Education Group.