Russia Rebrands Propaganda Lessons for Kindergartners as “Good Games” — Novaya Gazeta Europe

Russia’s education system is now extending patriotic indoctrination to its youngest citizens, as authorities have introduced a kindergarten version of the controversial “Important Conversations” program under the more innocuous name “Good Games,” according to a report published Thursday by independent media outlet Agentstvo.

The new initiative targets children as young as three years old with thinly disguised propaganda that mirrors the themes of the existing program for older students, which has been mandatory in Russian schools since 2022. While the packaging has changed, the content remains fundamentally similar, focusing on patriotic values and loyalty to the Russian state.

“Good Games” requires preschool teachers to cover six specialized topics with children between ages three and five. These include “Grandmothers and Grandfathers,” “The Peoples of Russia,” and “Parts of Russia — My Local Area,” effectively introducing nationalistic concepts to children at a highly impressionable age.

Particularly notable among the teaching materials is a coloring book featuring a map of Russia that controversially includes territories Russia has seized from Ukraine. Children are instructed to use this map to locate their region as part of classroom activities, normalizing Russia’s territorial claims from an early age.

The official guidelines for discussing Russia’s diversity reveal the underlying political messaging. When explaining the country’s various nationalities to preschoolers, teachers are instructed to emphasize: “There are many of us and we are all different, but we are united by our love of the motherland, Russia. We are ready to come together to protect our Motherland.”

The original “Important Conversations” program was implemented in schools across Russia in 2022, coinciding with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These lessons primarily focus on patriotism and what officials describe as “service to the fatherland and responsibility for its fate.” The curriculum does include some less overtly political topics like compassionate treatment of animals and conflict resolution, but these are presented within the broader framework of Russian values and identity.

In September, authorities expanded the program to kindergartens in 22 Russian regions. Teachers in these early education settings now work from specially designed textbooks intended to instill “civic, patriotic and ethical” values in children before they even reach primary school age.

Education experts outside Russia have expressed concern about the introduction of political indoctrination at such an early developmental stage. Child psychologists generally advise that complex political concepts are inappropriate for preschool-aged children, who lack the cognitive ability to critically evaluate such information.

This curricular shift reflects Russia’s broader campaign to strengthen national identity and foster unwavering support for state policies among its youngest citizens. Similar educational reforms have been documented throughout Russian history, particularly during times of conflict or political tension.

The rebranding effort—from “Important Conversations” to “Good Games”—appears designed to make the program more palatable to parents and educators working with young children, while maintaining its core nationalistic messaging. The playful name masks what critics describe as an unprecedented attempt to shape political attitudes from the earliest stages of education.

As Russia continues to face international isolation and domestic challenges, this educational initiative represents part of the Kremlin’s long-term strategy to cultivate a generation of citizens aligned with its political vision and territorial ambitions. By starting patriotic education in kindergarten, the Russian government aims to establish nationalist sentiments before children develop the critical thinking skills necessary to question state narratives.