Creating New Learning Environments: Challenges for Early Childhood Development Architecture and Pedagogy in Russia☆

Abstract This article observes the attempts to introduce modern international approaches to kindergarten design in the Russian regions and it aims to set the discussion about the importance of the open, flexible and child-centered spaces, as well as the creation of new learning environments for the early childhood development system in Russia. Specifically, it reviews theoretical approaches with respect to the correlation of the pedagogy and architecture design, and its influence on the learning and behavioral abilities of the children, it analyses the current status of early childhood development system in Russia, its challenges and potential implementation barriers for the modern reforms of the Russian kindergarten design. The authors pay a special attention to the role of the teacher as the agent of change and the influence of the teacher's perception on the reforms implementation.