In April, Kristina from Rødding Friskole’s kindergarten gave several presentations about her three-week stay in Chinese kindergartens. Read about her experiences and reflections in the article below, which Learn For Life has been given permission to publish.

From Rødding to China: Learning Across Cultures in Early Childhood Education

By Charlotte Schmidt
February 2026

Kristina Arndal, an early childhood educator at Rødding Friskole’s kindergarten, spent three weeks in China at the end of 2025 as part of an exchange programme organised by Learn For Life. During her stay, she worked in two different private kindergartens, where she took an active part in daily life, observed different educational approaches, and participated in and planned learning activities together with local staff.

The purpose of the journey

Kristina explains that one of her main motivations for going to China was the opportunity to share Danish approaches to early childhood education and the Danish view of children.

The aim was to exchange knowledge about educational methods, collaborate across cultures and gain new inspiration for working with children in everyday life – both in Denmark and in China.

Central to this was the Danish emphasis on relationships, children’s independence, and creating a safe and playful everyday environment. These are important elements in supporting children’s well-being, learning, development and personal growth.

Kristina also wanted to contribute her own professional knowledge and experience. In addition to being a trained early childhood educator, she is qualified in children’s motor and sensory development and has worked for several years with the importance of sensory and motor skills for children’s well-being and development. Sharing this knowledge with staff and parents in China therefore became another important part of her stay.

Before leaving Denmark, Kristina spent considerable time considering what she most wanted to communicate about Danish kindergarten culture. She says that visiting the Chinese kindergartens reminded her how much she values her own work and an educational environment in which children are naturally given plenty of opportunities for play, close interaction with adults and physical activity.

The exchange also gave her an opportunity to introduce Danish educational approaches to her Chinese hosts. They were particularly interested in the Danish emphasis on community, learning through play, and the way outdoor spaces and nature are integrated into children’s everyday lives.

According to Kristina, the experience provided a valuable insight into how early childhood education can develop when different traditions meet through respectful dialogue.

“I was reminded of the strong values on which our educational approach is based, and how important it is that children in Denmark are allowed to be children. At the same time, it was a wonderful experience both to share professional knowledge and to receive new inspiration,” she says.

During her stay, Kristina gave several presentations to Chinese educators, parents and grandparents about Danish early childhood education as well as sensory and motor development. Her presentations were met with great interest.

China as a theme in the kindergarten

The journey has not only influenced Kristina herself. It has also inspired the children back home at Rødding Friskole’s kindergarten.

In the weeks following her return, the kindergarten organised a three-week project with China as its theme. The children took part in a variety of creative activities. They drew and painted pictures inspired by China, explored symbols and colours from Chinese culture and learned a number of Chinese words.

They also tasted different Chinese dishes and learned about what everyday life can be like for children in China – from meals and play to daily routines and bedtimes.

One significant difference Kristina observed was that Danish early childhood education places a strong emphasis on relationships and close interaction, while the Chinese kindergartens she visited placed greater emphasis on planned activities and structure.

She believes that bringing these two approaches together can benefit both sides. At the same time, the experience reminded her of the value of democratic principles and the opportunities Danish children have to be heard and actively involved in shaping their own everyday lives.

Rødding Friskole and its kindergarten now look forward to building on the experiences and inspiration Kristina has brought home – both in their daily educational practice and in future projects.

Interested in a three-week stay in China?

Our next information meeting will be held on 31 May 2026 at Nordfyns Højskole near Bogense.

Are you an early childhood educator interested in spending time in China?

Join our next information meeting to learn much more about the programme, what a three-week stay involves, and the opportunities for exchanging professional knowledge and experiences with Chinese kindergartens.