The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan, kindergarten principals, scholars, and members of various child-focused organizations to discuss policies and practices that support children’s holistic development and well-being in early childhood education.
Why It Matters
The discussion was informed by a study involving 316 children aged 4–7 from eight public and private kindergartens across three regions of Kazakhstan. The research aimed to understand what makes children happy and how the preschool system can foster their health, learning, and overall development.
What Makes Children Happy in Kindergarten
The top ten sources of happiness identified by children were: 🎲 Play 🤝 Friends 🌿 Nature 🧸 Toys 🏡 Space 🎨 Art 📚 Learning ✨ Mastery in learning 👨👩👧👦 Parents 👩🏫 Teachers
The study revealed that 97% of children named play as their main source of joy.
Practical Resources
✔️ Policy Brief – “Promoting Well-Being in Early Childhood Education”
✔️ Educator Guide – Practical recommendations for kindergartens
Project Team
The project was conducted by the international research group CARCEIT in collaboration with Nazarbayev University and the University of Melbourne:
Prof. Daniel Hernández-Torrano — Principal Investigator (GSE, NU)
Prof. Dianne Vella-Brodrick — Co-PI (CWS, University of Melbourne)
Prof. Tricia Eadie — Co-PI (REEaCh, University of Melbourne)
Laura Ibrayeva, PhD — Postdoctoral Fellow, CARCEIT
Manat Sergazina, MSc — Research Assistant, CARCEIT
Aiida Kulsary, MA — Research Assistant, CARCEIT
Anara Burambayeva, MEd — Research Assistant, CARCEIT
Xeniya Tursunbayeva, PhD — Research Assistant, CARCEIT
Key Takeaway
The roundtable highlighted that a child’s well-being is a shared responsibility of families, educators, kindergartens, government bodies, health professionals, and society as a whole.