The concept of early childhood education and the perspective about children have been, through particular historical periods and centuries, different. Education has been present since prehistory; first known scripts about education and day care were made 900 years ago. The first educational centres in the Slovenian area were orphanages with the main purpose of day care. Ribnica in the Dolenjska Region is one of the oldest Slovenian towns. It is mostly known for woodenware, a woodcraft, which had an important meaning for the local population. Woodenware is related to agriculture, because the money, made by woodenware, was later invested into agriculture. The crafts were handed down from generation to generation. Every family member, including children, helped with the work. Children were born at home. The child mortality was high due to labour complications, inadequate hygiene etc. Before an organised preschool education was founded in Ribnica, there was Marijin vrtec (Mary’s kindergarten) which was visited by lots of children. During socialism, women were employed too, which resulted in a higher need for children day care. In 1953 a first unit of a kindergarten opened in the old boys’ school in Ribnica. Since then, preschool education made a great progress for the welfare of children.
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