Children Reimagining Their City: Early Childhood Education as an Engine for Social Creativity and Transformation
In 2024, the Kaleidoscope Foundation and the Children’s House partnered with local authorities in Varna, Bulgaria, to amplify young children’s participation in their city, focusing on key landmarks and spaces.
Four groups of children between the ages of 2 and 6 — along with their teachers — embarked on a journey to rediscover and reimagine their home city from their unique perspectives. This effort culminated in the exhibition “Children Thinking About Things That Aren’t There,” where children’s drawings were displayed on the windows of the City Municipal Building, marking a significant moment in Bulgaria by asserting young children’s right to co-create and influence their city in an age-appropriate and visible way.
The project raised crucial questions about integrating children’s voices in urban development, challenging the conventional “one-size-fits-all” educational approach, and rethinking how cities engage with the diverse intelligences of children, emphasizing the importance of qualitative, child-centered development in both education and community spaces.
An article in the July/August 2025 issue of Childhood Education Innovations magazine highlights the power of this project. Click below to read the article, available for a limited time with free access to the public.
To read the article, click the bottom right corner of the flipbook window to view in full screen. There is also a PDF version available for download below the flipbook window.
Childhood Education: Innovations
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