Early childhood democracy promotion is close to her heart
In an interview, Franziska Fröhlich tells us what is behind the project "Experience early childhood democracy - kings, children and the round colourful world".
Under the auspices of wundersam anders e.V. from Bayreuth and with the support of Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung , the pilot phase of a great project in and for day-care centres in the Bayreuth area is currently underway. Behind the project "Experience early childhood democracy - kings, children and the round colourful world" is a whole package of materials and possibilities with guidelines, handicraft templates for educational staff and even a whole play. The driving and creative force behind this is Franziska Fröhlich, who founded "Die Fröhliche Kinderbühne".
Please briefly introduce yourself and the "Fröhliche Kinderbühne". How did you get into puppet theatre?
FranziskaFröhlich: "I was born and raised in Bayreuth. I was drawn to creative work at an early age. Parallel to my job, I created picture stories which I performed live with Siggi Michl in day-care centres. A stage design assignment for a Punch and Judy show in 2006 suddenly turned into an active part as Gretl. It was great fun! This developed into independence with the mobile 'Fröhliche Kinderbühne' (Happy Children's Stage) with 12 children's plays that we have devised and realised ourselves so far. Together, as the band "Tiri Lii & Bummbatsch Peng", we also play many participatory songs live. I also work at several schools in creative education, as an illustrator, photographer and copywriter."
"Children, Kings and the Round Colourful World: What is the puppet theatre play about?
FranziskaFröhlich: "On the one hand, it is about discovering democracy. In a kingdom lives a queen who constantly has to make decisions. This is not always easy for her. When the children of the kingdom learn that their playground is to make way for a car park, the feeling awakens in them that they want to have a say. A democratic process begins and in the end the queen learns a lot about democracy from the children. Dealing with other opinions and finding a solution that everyone can accept is also an important part."
How did you come up with the idea of writing a puppet theatre play for kindergarten children that deals with democratic processes and opportunities for participation?
FranziskaFröhlich: "Because I was seriously worried about our country. There are so many right-wing tendencies, and democracy is not a matter of course. I wanted to create awareness among children for everything that makes up our free life here. It took a while until I came up with the idea for a story that children could understand in 2018."
And how is it possible to "break down" the rather complex topics of democracy building and participation processes to kindergarten level?
FranziskaFröhlich: "The children themselves have to play a leading role, a story has to be written from their point of view so that they feel addressed. Activity in a democracy usually only takes place when something that is important to you could change. For example, a great playground to develop and meet is the greatest treasure for the children. If it were necessary, they would stand up for this place. In the play, the children find a way to do this. This energetic process jumps to the children in the audience, so they participate as well and become a part of the play in a playful way, so they experience democracy."
What excites you personally about the topic of democracy education?
FranziskaFröhlich: "The fact that even as an adult you benefit so much when children think about it. You don't just 'hand over power'. The children learn to make compromises, to involve themselves, to have a variety of opinions and, above all, to be mature. What you experience and learn as a child is deeply rooted. They acquire basic competencies such as self-efficacy and the experience of competence.
The puppet theatre play is the introduction to the topic of participation/democracy building in the day-care centre, but that is not the end of it. What is necessary to live participation in the day-to-day life of a day-care centre and how are the day-care centres participating in the project supported in this?
FranziskaFröhlich: "The play is a good start for dealing with the topic. However, it is certainly not enough. The impetus for a larger project on this came from the Coordination Office for Democracy-Life in Bayreuth. Packaged in small experience modules, the day-care centres can explore the complex topic bit by bit, at their own pace. In any case, the project remains in the children's memory, promotes basic skills and exemplary learning. It appeals to all the senses and thus provides holistic impulses."
What does participation/democracy building in the day care centre mean for parents, children and educators?
FranziskaFröhlich: "Work that is exhausting, challenging and exciting at the same time, can result in surprising developments, and enables the children to acquire self-efficacy, differentiated perception, thinking skills, problem-solving skills and many other social skills. In the best case, this has an effect on good togetherness, because children are the greats of tomorrow."
Some may ask: Democracy education in kindergarten, is that possible? How does it work? What is your answer?
FranziskaFröhlich: "I think the topic is present and wanted in most day-care centres. When I presented the project box in the day-care centres, I noticed a lot of interest, because material for consciously experiencing democracy is apparently not yet available everywhere. Democracy is a guiding theme in the Education and Upbringing Plan (BEP) and an integral part of day-care pedagogy. The topic should be widely accepted and be a lot of fun for the children and the professionals.
Do you have any example(s) of what participation can look like in the day-to-day life of a day-care centre? In which situations should and can children have a say?
FranziskaFröhlich: "It depends a bit on the framework conditions such as age or group size, but children are competent to have a say in things right from the start. Everyday life in a day-care centre is complex and there are many ways to involve the children. Every day care centre has its own structure, its own flexible spaces and also rituals and rules that everyone has to follow. The important thing is that the children are allowed to participate in decision-making and that they are made aware of it.
Do you have any tips on how to practise participation processes with your children at home?
FranziskaFröhlich: "From early in the morning until late at night. Learning takes place by letting them try things out, the whole of everyday life offers that. Parents must also be allowed to try things out. I am a mother of two children myself and nothing works out the same way and certainly not all the time. Imperfection is a part of family life and also of democracy. For me, it is always important that we deal with each other, talk about things and find understandable solutions together.
My wish for the project is that it helps to communicate the topic and that it is also a lot of fun. I want word to spread and as many day-care centres as possible to participate. The first day-care centre has now started the project with children in emergency care. They were so enthusiastic that they didn't want to wait any longer, despite Corona."