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Elfriede Hengstenberg-Platz: A legacy of movement education discovered!
On September 12th, 2025, a square in Steglitz-Zehlendorf will be named after the educator Elfriede Hengstenberg, who supported children with innovative movement approaches.
Elfriede Hengstenberg-Platz: A legacy of movement education discovered!
On Friday, September 12, 2025, the square between Sven-Hedin-Straße, Forststraße and Fürstenstraße in Berlin-Zehlendorf was renamed in honor of the renowned educator Elfriede Hengstenberg. The ceremonial unveiling of the new street sign was carried out by District Councilor Urban Aykal, as on berlin.de was reported.
The initiative to rename the square came from civil society and was decided unanimously by the factions of the District Council (BVV) on May 14, 2025. Elfriede Hengstenberg is best known for her innovative approach to movement and perception education, which is based on children's natural urge to move.
Elfriede Hengstenberg's life's work
Elfriede Hengstenberg was an important movement educator and gymnastics teacher who was born in Meran, South Tyrol, in 1899 as the fourth of five children. At the age of eight, her family moved to Berlin. There she experienced an eventful childhood, which shaped her later career path. After her training in Munich, she began teaching in 1915 and continued her work despite the restrictions under National Socialism. Hengstenberg held firmly to her principles and refused to adapt her methods to Nazi ideology. She also supported Jewish families leaving Germany, which underlines her courage and humanitarian attitude.
Their practice-oriented play and movement concept promotes the independent movement development of children and is now recognized as being used in educational and therapeutic work. Hengstenberg's approach is widespread in many educational institutions and still influences the promotion of movement and perception today. Their work with materials such as rods and boards gave rise to the development of the so-called “movement construction site”.
Movement as the key to development
The topic of exercise has become increasingly important in recent years. While until the early 2000s the focus was primarily on individual health and leisure activities, today exercise is seen as a central component of the holistic development of children. On bpb.de It is emphasized that exercise not only supports physical development, but also cognitive and psychosocial development. Movement experiences not only promote children's motor skills, but also their self-confidence and social skills.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children under five should be active for 60 to 180 minutes a day. However, in today's society it is crucial that educational institutions and parents work together to ensure that children have more opportunities for exercise in everyday life. Social aspects play an important role here: children from educationally disadvantaged families often have less access to physical activity opportunities, which limits their development opportunities.
The renaming of the square to Elfriede Hengstenberg-Platz is not only a tribute to an important figure in education, but also an appeal to continue to focus on the importance of movement for the development and education of children.