Giving Compass' Take:

• Tinkergarten is a play-based early learning movement that incorporates educational tech in outdoor spaces for early learners. 

• The idea behind Tinkergarten is that this type of learning will help increase kindergarten preparedness. How can donors help grow this movement in early childhood education? 

• Learn more about the research-based curriculum in Tinkergarten. 

Tinkergarten is taking education technology outdoors, supporting a play-based, early learning movement that is helping thousands of children in nearly every US state become more ready for kindergarten.

It may be surprising, but one-third of American children are not ready for kindergarten by age five, with a disproportionate number of those being children from low-income backgrounds. In fact, the US ranks near the bottom of OECD countries when it comes to early learning enrollment for children ages 3–5.

Tinkergarten was created to provide the outdoor, active play experience that children need for complete development and kindergarten readiness, while also empowering teachers — which it calls “leaders” — to take a far more active role in their work, increasing job satisfaction and staff stability.

It is clear that play-based early learning is a universal concept and one that Tinkergarten has been able to spread across many communities through its quality curriculum, technology platform, and flexible workforce model. We’re excited at Omidyar Network to see Tinkergarten contribute to defining a more holistic focus for quality early childhood education, including an emphasis on creativity and critical thinking, as well as parent or caregiver nurturing engagement.

Read the full article about tinkergarten by Isabelle Hau at Medium.