Kindergarten Slovenska Bistrica aimed to improve the quality of pedagogical work through the development of high-quality didactic toys, including toys adapted for children with special educational needs. A key objective was the establishment of a digital library enabling systematic collection, borrowing and reuse of didactic toys and promoting the exchange of good practices. Dječji vrtić Vukovar aimed to strengthen staff competences in using didactic toys in daily pedagogical practice, particularly in learning through play, movement and outdoor activities, and to support the development of children’s basic STEAM competences. Kindergarten “7 Septemvri” Pehčevo aimed to increase the use of natural and locally available materials in toy production, connect traditional knowledge with modern pedagogical approaches, enhance international cooperation and upgrade its website to provide access to project content for professionals and parents.
Although professional staff in all partner institutions already had experience in creating didactic toys, this work was often fragmented and not sufficiently systematic, particularly in terms of inclusion, sustainability and digital support. There was a clear need to strengthen professional competences for designing and producing high-quality, purposefully structured didactic toys. Another identified need was the lack of a structured system for sharing and reusing self-made didactic materials. Many valuable teaching tools remained stored within individual classrooms and were not accessible to the wider professional community. Staff also expressed the need for additional knowledge about using sustainable and natural materials and for meaningful integration of digital tools into daily pedagogical planning. By connecting kindergartens from different cultural and educational contexts, the project aimed to strengthen professional confidence, innovation and motivation among staff and to improve the overall quality of early childhood education.