Pedagogy
Our pedagogy is rooted in respect for childhood. We create a safe, caring environment where children are free to explore, grow, and learn at their own pace—nurturing the whole child in mind, body, and heart.
A Curriculum Born From Real Experience
Our curriculum was developed by our founder, Jonas Koblin, together with a team of Thai and British educators. Coming from a family of educators, his mother founded a renowned drama school in Munich, Jonas was educated at one of the first Waldorf Schools, as well as other private institutions in Germany and the United States. When he couldn’t find a kindergarten that aligned with his values for his own Thai–German children, he founded Sprouts in 2018.
“We wanted to create a space where children are happy—where they sing songs, enjoy good food, and learn by doing projects, but most importantly, learn to love who they are, so they can start school curious and confident.”
— Jonas Koblin
Meet Our Founder
Beyond Sprouts, Jonas is an author on alternative education, the creator of Sprouts Schools—a popular YouTube project that brings animated video lessons into classrooms worldwide—and the co-founder of the Mali Pregnancy and Parenting app. Watch the interview about why he founded the Sprouts Kindergarten:
Immersive Bilingual Learning
Our immersive bilingual English/Thai program allows children to learn a second language during a time when their brain is most receptive for language development (see graph). To ensure high-quality teaching, our program is based on the principle of ‘One Teacher, One Language’.
The Original Kindergarten Philosophy
Sprouts follows the core beliefs of the original German Kindergarten model, developed by Friedrich Froebel, the founder of kindergarten.
Key principles include:
Free Play First
Free play is essential for children’s development, as it allows them to explore their interests and use their imagination.
Gentle Settling-In
We follow the German “Eingewöhnung” model to build trust and emotional security.
Real-World Experiences
Trips to parks, museums, and libraries help children explore, connect, and grow.
Bilingual & Cultural Balance
We value cultural understanding just as much as language development. By embracing both international and local traditions and celebrations, children learn respect, openness, and curiosity about the world around them. Through shared experiences—such as seasonal activities, cultural events, music, stories, and food—children gain a deeper appreciation of diversity while also feeling connected to their community. This balanced approach helps children feel grounded and secure in their environment while naturally developing a global mindset and a strong sense of belonging.
The Best of Proven Pedagogies
While rooted in the German Kindergarten tradition, our curriculum selectively integrates principles from:
These philosophies are applied flexibly, depending on the activity and learning goal, while always respecting each child’s individual pace.
Activities
Play is the foundation of learning at Sprouts. Through play, children explore, experiment, and make sense of the world in a safe and stimulating environment.
Free play and exploration
Hands-on, sensory-rich activities
Art, music, and creative expression
Real-life experiences and routines
Strong relationships with caring adults
Cooking activities
Field Trips
Our monthly field trips give children opportunities to explore their community, connect with the world around them, and develop empathy, responsibility, and social awareness.
Lumpini Park or Benjakitti Park
Local libraries
Local supermarkets
Rama IX Museum
Snake Farm (Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute)
Visiting Our Neighbours
Development Tracking
We believe that every child grows and learns in their own way and in their own time. Our development tracking focuses on the whole child, helping us understand and support each child’s development while celebrating their individuality. We observe and support children in the following areas:
Physical
Gross Motor Skills: Mastery of large muscle groups for movements such as crawling, walking, running, jumping and throwing.
Fine Motor Skills: Precision movements of small muscle groups, particularly in the hands and fingers (e.g., drawing or buttoning a shirt).
Health and Wellbeing: General physical fitness, nutrition, sleep hygiene, potty training, and the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Emotional
Self-awareness: The ability to recognize one’s own emotions, strengths, and limitations.
Social Skills: The capacity to build relationships, cooperate with peers, and navigate social cues effectively.
Intellectual
Cognition & Thinking Skills: The mental processes of problem-solving, memory, reasoning, and making sense of the world.
Language & Communication Skills: The ability to understand (receptive) and use (expressive) words and gestures to convey meaning.
Our teachers continuously observe children during play and daily routines to understand their interests, strengths, and development. These observations help us adapt activities and support to meet each child’s individual needs. Termly parent–teacher meetings help keep parents informed and strengthen the partnership between home and school.
The Sprouts Learning Portfolio
The portfolio reflects progress across social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development, showing not just what children learn, but how they grow in confidence, independence, and self‑expression.
A 360° View of Your Child’s Growth
The Sprouts Portfolio is a collaborative narrative that captures each child’s development from multiple perspectives. Rather than a single assessment, it brings together the voices of the child, educators, and family to create a rich and holistic picture of learning.
The Child’s Story
A curated collection of the child’s artwork, photographs, and meaningful creations—both from school and home—reflecting personal experiences, creativity, and key milestones.
The Educator’s Story
Professional observations from teachers that document the child’s learning journey, social-emotional growth, and important developmental “big steps” within the classroom.
The Family’s Story
Parent contributions added when the portfolio goes home, capturing interests, progress, and moments of growth observed in the family environment.
Learning Outcomes
Based on parent feedback, children completing the program demonstrate the following outcomes:
Emotional awareness and self-regulation with increasing confidence and resilience.
Emerging bilingual communication skills in Thai and English.
Physical coordination and body awareness.
Emerging literacy and numeracy skills.
Positive social development, including cooperation, problem-solving, and empathy.
OUR BELIEF
We believe that children learn best when they feel:
SAFE
Children feel protected, supported, and free to explore with confidence. A secure environment helps them build independence and trust—making Sprouts a place families can rely on in Bangkok.
SEEN
Every child is recognised as an individual. Our teachers take time to observe, listen, and understand each child’s interests, strengths, and needs, so no one is overlooked.
LOVED
Children experience warmth, care, and genuine connection every day. Feeling valued and loved gives them the confidence to learn, play, and grow with joy.
What’s after Sprouts
When children finish their journey at Sprouts, they move on with confidence, independence, and a love for learning. Over the years, Sprouts children have transitioned successfully to many wonderful schools, including NIST International School, Satit Chula, St. Andrews Sathorn, Future Steps International School, Garden International School, Aster International School and King’s College.
